Two former prisoners have been taken into custody by Namwera police in Mangochi after they were discovered on June 5, 2024, inside the Namwera Trading Center in possession of a RETAY handgun and two live rounds of ammo.
Both 20-year-old Bashir Ayami and 34-year-old Mustapha Antonio Stanley hail from Traditional Authority Jalasi in Mangochi.
The first suspect, Bashir Ayami, has been missing since he broke out of Mangochi Prison in March 2024, according to police records, and the second suspect, Mustapha Antonio Stanley, was previously found guilty of robbery.
Residents of the community reportedly alerted authorities to the suspects’ possession of the offensive weapon on the specified date in Namwera.
When two rounds of ammo and the aforementioned pistol—serial number R1YGCPRYS01-2300846—were discovered, a squad of detectives eventually raced to the scene and detained the pair.
The second suspect admitted to stealing the bicycle at Nsanama in the Machinga District after being discovered in possession of one as well.
During questioning, the first suspect disclosed that, following his escape from prison, he traveled to South Africa, where he formed an alliance with the second suspect and other criminals. However, he returned to the nation after obtaining the pistol.
Stanley will face accusations of theft and unlawful firearm possession, while Ayami is charged with breaking out of lawful custody and using a handgun without a permission.
Officers in the district would like to thank the community for their assistance in the battle against crime.
Story by Superintendent Amina Tepani Daudi, Public Relations Officer
Mangochi Police Station
