By Rahim Abdul

Lilongwe Police has arrested three men for allegedly stealing 14 brand-new plasma screens after one of the suspects broke into an electronics shop at Bwalolanjovu by cutting through the roof at around 2:30 a.m. on November 6, 2025.

Police have since recovered all 14 stolen plasma screens worth K3.5 million.

The suspects have been identified as Edward James,aged 32, John Banda, 26 years old and Harry Zomera, 32 years old.

On Wednesday, at around 10:00 p.m., detectives received a tip-off indicating that a man had broken into a Chinese national’s electronics shop by cutting through the roof at Bwalolanjovu in Area 2.

Swiftly, a squad of detectives from the station rushed to the location and efficiently set up a perimeter around the scene.

While maintaining their vigilant watch, at around 2:30 a.m., detectives observed James emerging stealthily from the top of the shop, transferring the plasma screens one after another to the ground.

Detectives tactically allowed the suspect to lower six of the 14 screens which he had strategically placed in the ceiling, before decisively intervening to apprehend him.

During his arrest, James was discovered with a metal cutter, presumably the tool exploited for the illicit entry.

Shortly thereafter, detectives arrested the two accomplices, Banda and Zomera, near Bata Shop, located in the same Area 2, where it is alleged they were poised to take delivery of the pilfered screens from James after a successful heist.

The suspects are currently in police custody and will appear in court soon to answer charges of breaking and theft.

Edward James hails from Maonde Village, while John Banda comes from Mgandeni Village, both in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachere, and Harry Zomera is from Magwaza Village, T/A Kaphuka, all in Dedza District.

By Burnett Munthali

Just minutes after being granted bail by the Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court, 11 suspects were re-arrested by police authorities.

The individuals had initially received bail in connection with allegations of theft and property destruction in the Mbowe area of Lilongwe.

According to court reports, the re-arrest is related to additional charges involving the assault of women during protests earlier this year.

These protests took place at Memorial Tower in Area 18 and involved government employees demonstrating for various grievances.

Police confirmed that the suspects are being held to face both the original property-related charges and the newly reported assault cases.

Magistrates and law enforcement officials have stressed that the re-arrest aims to ensure public safety and accountability while legal proceedings continue.

The sequence of events has drawn attention to the complexity of handling cases that involve both civic demonstrations and criminal allegations.

Observers note that the rapid re-arrest highlights the need for suspects to strictly adhere to bail conditions and cooperate fully with authorities.

The court proceedings for these individuals are expected to continue once the police complete investigations into the assault allegations.

Legal experts have emphasized the importance of due process, ensuring that the rights of the accused are protected while victims receive justice.

The community continues to monitor the case closely, given its implications for civic protests, public order, and the enforcement of law in Lilongwe.

Authorities have called for calm and patience as the judicial system works to resolve both the property-related and assault charges.