A Police officer and other other suspects have been arrested for allegedly staging a robbery in Chisamba area and stealing a motor vehicle, money and a phone.
The suspects who pretended to be officers from the Immigration Department also abducted the victim aged 48 and another female person aged 38 from a different shop.
Police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale has disclosed the development in a media statement issued this evening.
“Police in Chisamba District arrested four suspected criminals among them a Police officer for the offence of Aggravated Robbery which the suspects staged on May 7, 2023 around 19:30 hours at Chipembi Business Trading area in Chisamba District. One suspect is still on the run,” he said.
Mr Mwale said suspects, who were five in number and armed with one AK 47 Assault Rifle, attacked a named man while in his shop at the Business Trading area.
He said they allegedly stole money amounting to K5,000 a Toyota Regius bearing registration number ABV 5968 and one Samsung cellular phone.
Mr Mwale said officers were alerted and pursued the suspects who were also driving an unregistered Toyota Sienta.
He said the suspects were intercepted at Munano Council Security checkpoint in Chisamba area.
“Two were arrested including a Police officer while three managed to escape. During interrogations, the suspects were identified as Joel Kambayi aged 36, a Police officer based at Chelstone Police station in Lusaka, Choolwe Matonka aged 32 of Chelstone area in Lusaka.
The following stolen items were recovered K5,000.00, Samsung mobile phone, a Toyota Regious and one AK 47 Assault Rifle with three rounds of live ammunitions. The unregistered Toyota Sienta was also impounded,” Mr Mwale said.
He said two suspects were detained in Police custody while a manhunt for the three other suspects was launched.
However on May 9, 2023, one suspect identified as Mweemba Matonka aged 19 of Chudleigh in Lusaka was arrested after his parents handed him over to Police in Chisamba.
Mr Mwale said this was after information went out that Police were looking for him together with the other two who escaped at the checkpoint.
He said as investigations continued, on May 10, 2023, Police arrested the other suspect identified as Mando Mwanda aged 23 also of Chudleigh area in Lusaka.
“Police are still looking for the other suspect only identified as Soko of Ngwerere area in Lusaka.All the four suspects are detained in Police custody,” Mr Mwale said.