Police in Mangochi have arrested a 42-year old ex-convict, Wisiki Kaunda, for possessing three military handcuffs allegedly stolen from Mangochi Prison Services while serving a five-year sentence for burglary.

According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO), for Mangochi police, Amina Tepani Daudi, police detectives received a tip from community members on Thursday February 6, that the suspect was in possession of military equipment which he allegedly used to terrorize residents.

The officers acting on the information raided Kaunda’s house where they discovered three handcuffs hidden in a laptop bag and eventually arrested him.

“Upon being interrogated Kaunda, who was recently released from prison confessed to unlawfully obtaining the handcuffs from a storeroom at Mangochi prison which he stole when he was assigned cleaning duties in the storeroom,” said Daudi.

Reports indicate that Kaunda buried the handcuffs under a tree outside the prison premises while working on a farming assignment and after his release in July last year, he retrieved the handcuffs and began using them.

The prison authorities have positively identified both the suspect and the recovered handcuffs.

“The suspect is expected to appear in court once paperwork is completed, where he will face charges of unlawful possession of military equipment and theft,” Daudi added.

Kaunda comes from Kalonga Village, Traditional Authority Mapira in Mangochi District.