Crook arrested for rape

Police have arrested a 25-year-old man accused of posing as a forestry officer before allegedly raping a woman at Chiyenga Forest Reserve in Mzimba.

The suspect, identified as Jailosi Phiri, is in police custody after he allegedly pretended to be an officer from the Forestry Department before attacking a woman who had gone to collect firewood with her mother at Chiyenga Forest Reserve on Thursday.

Mzuzu Police Station Assistant Public Relations Officer, Edson Chipeni said the suspect was wearing a yellow vest and torn jeans when he approached the two women and claimed to be a forestry officer.

Fearing arrest, the women ran in different directions.

Chipeni said the suspect chased the younger woman, overpowered her and allegedly raped her, while her mother managed to escape.

Meanwhile, the incident was reported to Ekwendeni Police Post the same day, and the survivor was issued with a medical report for examination and treatment.

Police later visited the scene, where they recovered a pair of shoes believed to belong to the suspect. Following investigations, detectives arrested Phiri at Ekwendeni Trading Centre on Friday.

Phiri, who comes from Chitimbe Village in Traditional Authority Kachere, Dedza District, is expected to appear in court soon on charges of rape and impersonating a public officer.