Shot suspect dies in hospital
Police on Sunday evening shot a suspected criminal who has since died at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.
In an interview yesterday, National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said the suspect, identified as George Pailoti, died yesterday while receiving treatment.
He said: “George Pailoti was shot in the thigh around 8pm on March 5 as he was trying to escape arrest in Naperi Township in Blantyre. Meanwhile, police have recovered from his home several items suspected to have been stolen.”
Pailoti was arrested alongside his two accomplices Silence Kambuzi, 38, and Wyson Sinoya, 52, following a tip-off.
Kalaya said the suspects confessed during interrogation to have been connected to five recent breaking and robbery cases in Blantyre.
Pailoti’s shooting and death comes barely a week after police threatened to use force and shoot all resistant suspected criminals.
Kalaya is on record as having said police are aware of the security lapse concerns in some parts of the country, particularly in cities and towns.
He said: “These [shootings] are a result of that decision and we have managed to arrest the suspected criminals. They have been shot in their legs and buttocks.
“As police, we will not hesitate to use force reasonably according to offences and the situation we encounter on the ground. Force depends on the resistance and Malawi laws allow us to shoot a person not only to injure, but even beyond injuring that person.”
Pailoti came from Navala Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Ngolongoliwa in Thyolo while Kambuzi is from Ntigala Village, T/A Symon in Zomba and Sinoya comes from Chimwala Village, T/A Chiwaula in Mangochi.
On February 27, police shot five of six people that were cornered at the T-junction of Moi Street and Kasungu Crescent near Chichiri Shopping Centre in Blantyre for being suspected to have committed various robberies in some parts of the country.
