BALAKA (Malawi Democrat)-Police in Malawi's eastern district of Balaka are keeping in custody two people Maxwell Yusufu (25), and Uladi John (48) for allegedly murdering their fellow businessman, Dickson Ibra.
According to the police investigator Detective Sub Inspector Fanny Mchenga, the suspects and the deceased have been good friends as they were all businessmen; and early July, 2013 the deceased gave the first suspect Maxwell Yusufu K68, 000.00 to buy him maize.
Mchenga says the suspect plotted to kill their friend on 13th July, 2013 when Yusufu phoned the deceased and cheated him that he has found a lot of maize and that he would need K400, 000.00
"But their plan did not materialise on this day as he did not agree with the prices told. The following day 14th July, 2013, the suspects tricked the deceased again informing him that the trader has agreed to sell the maize at the bargained price.
"This made the deceased to rush to the place and by the time he was going there he had the said K400, 000.00. As per their plot, Maxwell called the second suspect Uladi John pretending that he was coming to offer transport since he has a pick up," she saus.
Mchenga explains that at around 08:00 hours, the deceased ignorantly joined the suspects to where they claimed the maize was but on their way the suspects attacked the deceased, robbed him the cash, killed him and buried the body in the bush.
"The following day, the first suspect Maxwell went to the deceased's house to ask of the deceased's whereabout and this made the relatives of the deceased to become suspicious as they suspected foul play and took Maxwell to Liwonde Police. Upon interview, Maxwell revealed to have killed his friend together with the second suspect Uladi John and that they buried the body in the bush," says Mchenga.
According to Mchenga Yusufu led Police to where they buried the body and was exhumed.
Post-mortem conducted at Machinga District Hospital revealed that death was caused due to head injuries and lost of blood.
The body has since been reburied and the suspects are expected to appear before court soon where they will answer charges of murder which is contrary to section 209 of the Penal code.
Maxwell Yusufu comes from Pata village, Traditional Authority Kalembo in Balaka district and Uladi John comes from Chitalo Village, Sub Traditional Authority Amidu in Balaka district while the deceased Dickson Ibra was coming from M'manga village, Traditional Authority Kalembo in the same district of Balaka.
