Public officer arrested for theft of 19 bicycles

A 56-YEAR-OLD a civil servant is in police custody for the theft of 19 Buffalo Bicycles at Mpika Urban Clinic in Mpika.

Muchinga Province Police Commissioner, Lizzie

Machina confirmed the incident in Mpika yesterday.

According Ms Machina, the theft took place between February 3 and April 8, 2021 and was reported to the police on April 8, 2021.

Ms Machina said that the Nineteen (19) bicycles are valued at not less than Fifty Thousand (50 000) Kwacha.

The Police Commissioner disclosed that the matter was reported to the police by Amos Zulu, 56, a Stores Officer at Ministry of Health.

She said that after investigations, it was discovered that Amos Zulu, who happened to be the one reporting the matter was actually behind the theft of the bicycles.

Ms Machina added that he was later detained and is in Police custody for the offence of Theft by Public Servant.

The Police Commissioner said that on Sunday 18 April, Francis Mulenga aged 34 of Chibansa area in Chief Chikwanda’s Chiefdom also reported a different case of theft.

Ms Machina added that when Francis Mulenga went to report to the Police he was riding a bicycle which was of the same make as the stolen ones.

She said that after interviewing him, it was discovered that Mr Mulenga bought the alleged bicycle at One Thousand Eight Hundred (1,800) Kwacha from Amos Zulu who as mentioned earlier is the Stores Officer.

The suspect has since been detained in Police custody after interrogation,” said Ms Machina.