ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CORPORATION OF MALAWI LIMITED (ESCOM)

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Chinese National and Two Malawians Remanded for 14 Days, One Granted Bail

By Cosmas Kaunga, ESCOM Outreach Officer

Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate, Rodrick, Michongwe, ordered the remand of Chinese national Xu Hongxiang and two Malawians, Eliko Frackson and Frezer Crement, to Maula Prison for 14 days on Monday, 20th January 2025.

The trio is accused of possessing stolen items and theft of assets suspected to belong to Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited. The court, however, granted bail to another suspect, Yamala Lameck.

Director of Prosecutions at Malawi Police Service, Reve Mangani, who stood in as the State prosecutor, argued for the suspects’ remand to allow the police sufficient time to conclude investigations.

“We have reports indicating the involvement of additional buyers connected to this case, and we are currently pursuing them,” Mangani stated, adding that releasing the suspects on bail could jeopardize ongoing investigations.

Chief Resident Magistrate Michongwe upheld the prosecutor’s request, ruling that the suspects remain in custody for 14 days.

Police in Lilongwe arrested Hongxiang (aged 62),  Frackson (25), Crement (26 and 29-year-old Lameck on Saturday, January 18, 2025, in connection with a series of vandalism cases targeting ESCOM assets.

Frackson hails originally from Nsalu Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kabudula, Lilongwe; Crement (Chidzenje Village, T/A Kalolo, Lilongwe) and Lameck (T/A Nsema in Mulanje).

During the operation at a warehouse in Lilongwe, the police and ESCOM security team recovered over 40 bags of stolen copper wires, amounting to approximately 18 tonnes suspected to have been stolen from various sites of the power utility company.

Commenting on the arrests, National Police Deputy Spokesperson, Harry Namwaza, said they have stepped up efforts to combat vandalism targeting assets for utility companies such as ESCOM.

ESCOM Acting Regional Manager for the Centre, MacDowel Kumatso, lamented the devastating impact of vandalism on the corporation’s operations.

“We are forced to redirect resources to repair and replace vandalized equipment, delaying our efforts to connect new areas to the electricity grid,” he said.

Being found in possession of stolen Escom equipment and vandalising the same are offences that attract a maximum 30-year jail term with no option of paying a fine. This is according to the Electricity Amendment Act of 2024.

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