By CHINOYI CHIPULU
A-21-year-old man of Kalomo who made a fake Facebook page prentending to be related to Inspector General of Police and promising to secure jobs for people has been arrested.
Kahembi Kapalu created a fake Facebook bearing the names of Nancy Kanganja using a profile picture of a female officer working under Lusaka division and swindled 29 people of K59, 000 on pretext that he would influence senior police officers to recruit them as police constables.
Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo said Kahembi was arrested for offences of Personation contrary to section 378(1) and obtaining money by false pretences which is contrary to section 309 of Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
“The accused person is alleged to have created a fake Facebook account in the name of Nancy Kanganja using a profile picture of a female police officer working under Lusaka Division and swindled 29 people out of a total of K59, 000 on pretext that he would influence senior officers in the office of the Inspector General of Police to have them employed in the Zambia Police Service as constables,” she said.
She said the suspect was introducing himself as a nice to the Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja and was using different mobile numbers to receive money from victims
“He was using different numbers to receive money among them 0770624379 and 0970307157 on pretext that the same mobile numbers belonged to the Special Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Brian Makunka,” she said.
She said investigations led to the apprehension of Kahembi Kapalu of Kalomo and the mobile phone and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards using the phone numbers mentioned above were recovered.
Ms Katongo said Kahembi is detained in police custody awaiting court appearance in Kalomo.
She has warned people who have taken to social media to commit various offences by using fake identities that they risk being arrested and prosecuted.
“What social media abusers should bear in mind is that they will not hide behind the fake identity in perpetuity because one day they will be uncovered and meant to answer to charges,” she said
