By Shaffie A Mtambo
A 40-year-old woman, Dyless Mbengo, has been arrested by Lilongwe Police for allegedly duping 11 people of their maize valued at K577 million. Mbengo, a resident of Gochi Village, Traditional Authority Mpando in Ntcheu District, is accused of using fake cheques and false pretenses to obtain large quantities of maize from grain traders and farmers.
According to Inspector Hastings Chigalu, Lilongwe Police PRO, Mbengo posed as a representative of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that purchased maize in bulk to distribute to the needy. She would approach traders and farmers, promising to pay them later or issuing fake cheques. Once she obtained the maize, she would go into hiding, leaving her victims with significant financial losses.
The police have recorded 11 cases so far, with more victims coming forward. Among the affected individuals, four were duped of maize worth millions: K260, K86, K53, and K30 each, in Lilongwe, Nkhota-kota, and Mzimba.
Mbengo had been in hiding for a considerable period but was finally arrested over the weekend after Lilongwe Police detectives intensified their investigations and manhunt. She is expected to appear in court this week to face multiple counts of Obtaining Goods by False Pretenses.
