Malawi: The Police Officials have arrested some o two men and a woman in Thyolo District. The officials have said that the arrests had been made in connection with the murder of 29-year-old, Peter Mponda.
The murder in question had been committed on June 10, 2024, in Thowa Village of the Thyolo District. The officials have shared that the suspects had been responsible for assaulting the deceased victim.
The three were part of a larger mob of people who had assaulted the victim after a verbal and physical altercation. The officials have shared that the altercation involved the victim and his friend.
The suspects have been identified as 20 year old William Victor, 29 year old Liness Mpinga and 32 yar old Yamikani James. The Police officers alleged that they had played a part in the fatal assault of Mponda.
Thyolo Police Station Public Relations Officer, Rebecca Kashoti shared the details of the incident with the media. She said the incident began when Mponda had a heated argument with his friend, Samson Mpinga, 21, over a K200 debt.
“The disagreement escalated, leading Mponda to stab Samson with a knife before fleeing the scene.
“In a tragic turn of events, an angry mob, including the three suspects, caught up with Mponda and assaulted him to death in revenge,” said Kashoti.
Kashoti said the violent episode was reported to the police by the members of the community. Afterwards the officers launched an investigation that resulted in the arrest of Victor, Mpinga and James.
The officials have shared that it took them more than fifty days to track down three of the suspects as they were part of a bigger crowd.
“Authorities are continuing their investigation to apprehend more suspects involved in the mob justice incident,” said Kashoti.
Thyolo police have since urged the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands to prevent committing serious crimes.
Victor hails from Pelusi under Traditional Authority (TA) Chimaliro while Mpinga and James is from Ntholora under TA Ngolongoliwa in Thyolo.