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Police officer arrested for mobilising gang to destroy MRA camp

Police in Mchinji have arrested Zyulio Pondamali, a police officer working at Namitete Police Station for allegedly mobilising a gang to destroy a Malawi Revenue Authority’s Flexible Anti-Smuggling Team (FAST) camp. 


In a  press statement, signed by MRA head of corporate affairs Steve Kapoloma, the authority says investigations revealed that Pondamali ferried a mob to the camp on Sunday after his minibus, a Nissan Caravan registration number MH 7256, was involved in an accident while conveying smuggled goods. 


The minibus is said to have overturned near Guilleme turn off due to a tyre burst as a result of over speeding, leading to the death of the minibus driver.


“The Authority would like to put it on record that its FAST operation in Mchinji was not involved in the accident. FAST was not in pursuit of the minibus as alleged by Pondamali since the patrol team was not in the area where the accident occurred,” said Kapoloma.


Meanwhile, Pondamali is being kept at Mchinji Police Station and according to Kapoloma, more arrests are expected as investigations are ongoing. 


MRA has since commended the Mchinji Malawi Police Service and communities around Ludzi turn-off for working in unison to protect the camp from the assailants. 
The Authority has also expressed gratitude for the professional conduct of the Malawi Police Service in handling the matter. 
The Authority reiterates that smuggling is a serious offence under the Customs & Excise Act. 


“Besides depriving the Government of revenue for public investment and services, smuggling distorts market prices thereby robbing local businesses of fair competition and with time, this malpractice leads to the collapse of local industries,” reads the statement in part.

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