Woman arrested for smuggling cellphone into prison

Malawi: Police in Nkhata Bay district, northern Malawi, are holding a 33-year-old woman, Leah Banda, for allegedly smuggling a cell phone into Nkhata Bay prison for her husband, who is incarcerated for theft by a servant.

According to prison officials, Kamanga, the former head teacher of Mtazi Primary School in the district, was arrested for squandering K11,000,000 (Eleven Million Malawi Kwacha) meant for a development project at the school.

The wife carried out her plan and successfully sneaked the device into the prison on October 2, 2022. However, the husband was apprehended a day later by one of the prison officials while using the phone.

After receiving the report, the wife was arrested.

She was charged with bringing prohibited articles into prisons, which is a violation of Section 81(b) of the Prisons Act.

Because he is already in police custody, the husband will face the charge of being found in possession of prohibited articles (cell phone).

Leah Banda is from the Nkhata Bay District's Chivwiti Village T/A Timbiri.