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Malawi Police in the capital Lilongwe have arrested a 51-year-old Chinese national for alleged illegal possession of ammunition, a spokesman has confirmed with
Nyasa Times.![chinese-]()
Ma Minqin, owner of China South Investments Shop situated in Area 36 in the capital city was arrested on Wednesday after police found him in possession of illegal fire arms, according to Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula.
He said the Chinese man had reported fire at his house in Area 36 at around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday and police who accompanied the fire fighters from Lilongwe City Council uncovered some rounds of live ammunition in his car.
“We arrested him and investigations are ongoing,” said Dandaula.
He said Police went to the Chinese trader’s property to “carry out some investigations on how the fire started.”
Dandaula said as the police were taking out some baggage, Mingin accidentally dropped one live ammunition.
“We tried to question the suspect of the whereabouts of the gun but he denied not having it and later on changed his statement saying the gun was in Zambia,” he said.
He said a further search uncovered 43 rounds of live ammunition in the suspect’s car plus cash worth a whopping K25 million stashed in a sack bag.
The suspect is in police custody and is expected to answer charges of possessing illegal fire arm contrary to section 16 (2) of the Firearms Act.
Sources say the number of rounds found with the Chinese typically is only found in military establishment.
In recent years, Malawi has seen an influx of Chinese nationals who own business interests in the construction, mining and retail sectors.
Ma Minqin, owner of China South Investments Shop situated in Area 36 in the capital city was arrested on Wednesday after police found him in possession of illegal fire arms, according to Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula.
He said the Chinese man had reported fire at his house in Area 36 at around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday and police who accompanied the fire fighters from Lilongwe City Council uncovered some rounds of live ammunition in his car.
“We arrested him and investigations are ongoing,” said Dandaula.
He said Police went to the Chinese trader’s property to “carry out some investigations on how the fire started.”
Dandaula said as the police were taking out some baggage, Mingin accidentally dropped one live ammunition.
“We tried to question the suspect of the whereabouts of the gun but he denied not having it and later on changed his statement saying the gun was in Zambia,” he said.
He said a further search uncovered 43 rounds of live ammunition in the suspect’s car plus cash worth a whopping K25 million stashed in a sack bag.
The suspect is in police custody and is expected to answer charges of possessing illegal fire arm contrary to section 16 (2) of the Firearms Act.
Sources say the number of rounds found with the Chinese typically is only found in military establishment.
In recent years, Malawi has seen an influx of Chinese nationals who own business interests in the construction, mining and retail sectors.