Lilongwe police have arrested 24-year-old Manuel Mazoni for breaking into the home of an Indian national in Area 9, Lilongwe, and stealing various items valued at K14 million on December 27, 2024.
Police detectives have also taken into custody two other individuals whose names are withheld, for receiving and selling the said stolen property.
On the night in question, Mazoni broke into the home of Harpal Singh, an employee of the Indian High Commission in Lilongwe, and stole various items, including two iPhones, a laptop, an Apple iPad, a Samsung phone, a Bluetooth speaker, a wallet, and a purse containing K400,000 and K200,000 in cash, respectively.
After a careful study of the crime scene and critical analysis of the closed circuit Television (CCTV) footage, detectives identified Mazoni to be the culprit.
Mazoni is an ex-convict who was once sent to Maula prison in 2019 for breaking into the Malawi Electoral Commission office at Area 3 where he stole computers.
Upon his arrest in Area 36, Mazoni admitted to committing the crime and disclosed that he had sold the stolen items to another individual. Further investigations led to the identification of this second suspect. During a raid at the suspect’s residence, police recovered a Bluetooth speaker and a wallet. However, the second suspect informed the police that he had also sold some of the stolen items to a third individual.
When detectives arrested the third suspect they found out that he had already crossed the borders into Mozambique with the items where he sold them. Arrangements by police are underway to recover the items from the neighbouring country.
The three suspects will appear in court soon to answer applicable charges.
Manuel Mazoni comes from Chidothi Village, Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa District.
