Man tries to trick convict’s mother into paying for son’s release

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Arrested

Malawi Police officers in Dedza district have arrested a 46 year-old man for trying to dupe a convict’s mother into paying money for her jailed son to be freed.

The suspect, Shadreck Banda, attempted to trick the woman into paying him K95,000 after claiming that he would facilitate the release of the woman’s son Mussa Salanje from jail.

Police spokesperson in the district constable Cassim Manda said Banda was serving his jail sentence at Dedza prison. While he was at prison, the woman’s son Mussa Salanje was arrested for arson and was sent to Dedza prison on remand.

Cassim Manda
Cassim Manda confirmed of the incident.

In prison Mussa shared the progress of his case with the suspect. When Banda was released, he contacted Mussa’s mother Mrs Salanje and told her that he was the prosecutor for her son’s case.

Banda told her to send him K95,000 through Airtel Money for the charges against her son to be dropped.

But before she could send the money the woman heard that her son had been convicted and sentenced. She therefore went to Dedza police to report the matter and Banda was later arrested.

He comes from Pondani village in the area of Traditional Authority Chikho in Ntchisi and is expected to answer the charge of cheating contrary to 321 of penal code.

Meanwhile Dedza police have warned people to be careful with tricksters.

“We work for the people and our services such as police bail and arrest of offenders are for free. To would be offenders Malawi police will not allow its image to be tarnished by anyone,” said Manda.

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