The suspect was arrested on Tuesday on 2 April 2024.

Mchinji police spokesperson, Limbani Mpinganjira has  confirmed the arrest and said the suspect bumped into the victim at NEEF offices in Mchinji and claimed to be a NEEF employee based in the district and promised the victim to help him process his loan in time, and demanded K275,000 from the victim for a K5,000,000 loan the victim was applying for at NEEF offices in the district.

“During the course, the victim got duped K131,000 and the delays brought skepticism to the victim, prompting him to probe more whether the suspect was a genuine NEEF officer, only to find out later that he was just an imposter,” said Mpinganjira.

James Phiri hails from Chilowa Village, Traditional Authority Njombwa in Kasungu district.