Ntchisi ADMARC Official In Maize, Fertilizer Theft; Police Officer Involved

• Admarc official was arrested on after stealing Maize worth close to a Million Kwacha after customer logged complaints about fertilizer 
• Few hours after arrest police were tipped that last night he diverted 300 bags of fertiliser subsidy with help of Police Officer 

Police officer was also involved in fertilizer theft

Police in Ntchisi have arrested Unit Marketing Officer for Msumba ADMARC for allegedly stealing maize valued close to a Million Kwacha and few hours after his arrest, police stumbled upon information connecting him to the missing 300 bags of subsidy fertiliser in Ntchisi district.

Police have identified the suspect as George Kambwiri, aged 56, of Nankhako village in the area of Traditional Authority Ntema in Lilongwe.

Ntchisi Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha says his arrest on maize allegations came following complaints from customers around Msumba ADMARC depot that the officer had tricked them to pay money for fertilizer but was unable to give them the commodity in return.

M'bumpha says "The complaints reached ADMARC officials at Mponela who reacted by sending an internal auditor supervisor, Prince George Kambwiri to follow up the matter but upon carrying out  maize and fertilizer stock inspection at the depot, it was discovered that bags of maize in quantities of 50kgs worth K787, 930 (Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand Kwacha, Nine Hundred and Thirty Kwacha), were found missing."

M'bumpha says police arrested the Unit Marketing Officer on charges of Theft by Servant immediately when the incident was reported to Ntchisi Police Station on 15th January, 2016.

He further indicated that, police in the district are investigating other complaints related to the matter and in the mean time, no single bag of maize has been recovered.

Fertilizer Scandal Involving Police Officer 

As police are continuing with the maize investigations, have also leveled new charge to George Kambwiri on Official Corruption after coming across information that the maize suspect, was involved together with three other individuals among them a police officer, in fertiliser theft which occurred night before his arrest.

Sergeant M'bumpha has disclosed that Kambwiri is currently in police custody together with the three accomplices suspected to be responsible of the missing 300 bags of 50kgs containing Urea fertilizer meant for Nsinda and Mzandu ADMARC depots in Ntchisi.

Three other suspects have been identified as Dalitso Chafika, a driver aged 36, business man, Chikondi Kalulu aged 34, and a police officer, Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu working at VIP Branch in Lilongwe. 

"The motor vehicle registration number BU 3009 for Apita Investment carrying subsidy fertilizer from Kanengo to Mzandu and Nsinda ADMARC selling points in Ntchisi under police escort of Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu was diverted to Msumba ADMARC selling point (where Kambwiri worked as Unit Marketing Officer) where 200 bags were offloaded and the remaining 100 bags were sold to a vendor at Ntchisi Trading Centre" explains M'bumpha

Police Public Relations Officer for Ntchisi district, Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha says the  fertiliser of Urea type was under Government program, Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) being sold to smallholder farmers.

According to M'bumpha police have established that business man, Chikondi Kalulu bribed the Unit Marketing Officer with K175, 000, the driver with K130, 000, the Police officer with K50,000 and assistant driver with K20,000.

"The Unit Marketing Officer (George Kambwiri) admitted to have been bribed." confirmed M'bumpha

Driver, Dalitso Chafika comes from Chizumba village, Traditional Authority Ntema in Lilongwe, while business man, Chikondi Kalulu comes from Ndendere village, Traditional Authority Chikho in Ntchisi and Sub Inspector Stephen Katundu works at VIP Branch in Lilongwe.