The Fiscal Police in Blantyre have arrested two estate agents identified as Boyd Tchongwe, 40, and McDonald Phiri,59, for fraud following a complaint from Saqib Ahmad whom they sold plots that do not exist in the city.
Police findings indicate that between March 2022 and January 2023, Ahmad, a businessman at Limbe, wanted to buy plots from Blantyre City Council (BCC) in Chigumula and Mpingwe locations.
He then approached Phiri who introduced him to Boyd Tchongwe an official from BCC.
National Spokesperson for Malawi Police Service, Peter Kalaya, said Tchongwe presented documents purported to be from Blantyre City Council as proof that the council was indeed selling the stated plots.
“The victim, Ahmad was convinced with the documentation tendered by the two estate agents to the extent that he paid for four plots in Chigumula and two in Mpingwe at K16.5 million.
“The amount was paid in two instalments; K4 million through Tchongwe’s bank account named Blantyre City Investments and K12.5 million in cash,” said Kalaya.
When the victim went to the council for confirmation of the land purchase, he was surprised to be told that the plots in question do not exist and that the documents were fake.
Fiscal Police in Blantyre managed to arrest the two estate agents in question and charged them with three counts: Fraud, uttering false documents and impersonating a public officer.
Boyd Tchongwe has been found with BCC’s stamps, documents bearing the council’s logo, fresh application forms, confidential documents from the city like plot maps, and letters of plot transfers among others. -MBC Online Services.
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