By Chisomo Phiri
Police at Nselema in Machinga district are keeping in custody village headman Njete for allegedly trying to bribe a police officer with a sum of K100,000 to close a defilement case against his son.
The traditional leader has been identified as Keyalwo Malekano, 56, from Traditional Authority Ngokwe in Machinga district.
According to Eastern Region Police assistant Public Relations Officer, Tionge Kayenda, on August 18, 2023 police at Ngokwe arrested Malekano’s son, Kalako Richman Malekano, 35, for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl.
Kayenda says on August 19 the suspect was transferred from Ngokwe Police Unit to Nselema Police Post for court proceedings.
Following the arrest of his son, the chief went to Nselema Police to seek audience with the station officer assistant superintendent Robert Chakwiya.
Kayenda says, the chief produced the cash and offered to Chakwiya in order to close the case of his son as well as release him from police custody.
“Chakwiya received the money from the chief and immediately locked him in police custody,” she said.
Malekano will appear before court soon to answer the charge of corrupting a police officer and the money will be used as evidence in court.
