Lingadzi Police Station in Lilongwe has arrested four people including two ex-convicts for the offence of fraud.
According to Lingadzi Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sub inspector Salomy Zgambo, the suspects are identified as Wane Simbeye, Peter Sungani, Aaryan Nkapu and Noel Swally.
She said Simbeye is an employee of Telecom Networks Malawi(TNM), Sungani is a mobile money agent for both TNM and Airtel; Nkapu and Sally are both ex-convincts.
“The arrest of the four follows rampant cases of simcard swap and online fraud cases reported in various stations, including Lingadzi Police Station.
“In one case lodged at the station, Mr Joab Frank Chakhaza who works as a broadcaster at Zodiak Broadcasting Service and Mr Edwin Maluwa both complained that between 21 and 24 November 2022 their phone numbers were swaped without their consent and that fraudsters managed to transfer their money amounting to over K3 million from their National and Standard Bank accounts, respectively.
“Following investigations, Noel and Peter were found with both sim registration and sim swap applications which were being used for their illegal activities.
“Upon being interviewed they all admitted to be the ones responsible for the crimes,” she said
Currently, Zgambo said investigations are still in progress to recover the stolen money and arrest other suspects linked to the case.
Meanwhile, police have confiscated the phones that the suspects were using to commit the offence.
Wane Simbeye, aged 28 hails from Dakalinali village in Traditional Authority Mbewe in Karonga, Peter Sungani, 32, hails from Namisemba village in Traditional Authority Mwambo in Dedza, Aaryan Nkapu, 23, hails from Germany village in Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba and Noel Swally, 22 years, hails from Nkanda village in Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba.
