SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
A CONMAN posing as an officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration Department and defrauded unsuspecting members of the public out of their money using fake names has been arrested.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo confirmed the arrest of Arthur Mutembo, 42 who used a forged identity of Jonathan Tembo to swindle several foreign nationals on pretext that he was an immigration officer by Mazabuka police.
In a statement Ms Katongo said the suspect was found with seven subscriber identity modules (SIM) cards and a forged identity card for immigration department bearing the names Jonathan Tembo.
“Police in Mazabuka have arrested a 42 year old man for allegedly swindling unsuspecting members of the public out of money using the name Jonathan Tembo on pretext that he was an employee in the ministry of home affairs.
“The suspect whose real name is Arthur Mutembo is alleged to have been fraudulently obtaining money from foreign nationals pretending that he was an officer in the Immigration Department, “Ms Katongo said.
Ms Katongo said he has been charged with four counts of obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 309, one count of theft contrary to section 272 and one count of personating a public officer contrary to section 102 of chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia and will appear in court soon.
She appealed to all those who could have been swindled by Mutembo to report to any nearest Police.
Meanwhile, Ms Katongo said Police in Nchelenge were still searching for a body of Oswald Chola ,24 of Chikuni Village, Chief Kambwali who was reported to have drowned on August 15, at about 08:00 hours on Lake Mweru near Mwatishi Waters.
She said the victim who had gone fishing in the company of his friend Joseph Mwango of the same village drowned after the boat in which they were in capsized due to strong wind.
However Mwango managed to swim to safety.
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