Police in Lilongwe have arrested a 27-year-old former teacher, Charles Makwinja, on suspicion of defrauding a fellow teacher by using her National ID and bank details to access a K1.4 million loan without her consent.
According to Lilongwe Police, the alleged fraud happened in December last year.
Makwinja reportedly approached the victim and asked to borrow her National ID, telling her he needed it to apply for fertilizer.
After she handed over the ID, he allegedly requested her bank account number, saying he wanted to send her money as a thank-you.
Khumbo Sanyiwa, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Lilongwe Police said that the suspect allegedly arranged for K1.4 million to be deposited into the teacher’s account and later claimed it was a mistake.
He told her he had meant to send only K14,000 and believing his explanation, the teacher gave him the money.
A month later, she noticed K91,000 had been deducted from her account.
When she followed up, she discovered a K1.4 million loan had been processed in her name using her ID and bank details.
When questioned, Makwinja allegedly admitted he had used her National ID and employment number, which he got from a school forum, to apply for the loan from a microfinance institution.
