Three women in Lusaka have been arrested for staging a fake abduction in which they alleged to have been robbed, raped and later dumped in Chibolya.
Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba has since warned members of the public to stop creating an unsafe environment in the country to extort money out of innocent others
Speaking in a statement, Mr Kajoba said that three women have today been jointly charged and arrested for giving false information to a public officer.
He said the suspects Tanaka Nhandu aged 29 of Chilenje South, Dorica Mbewe aged 25 of Kalingalinga and Isabel Stevens aged 28 of Libala South had reported falsely of being robbed and raped.
“This is in relation to a video which has gone viral on social media that was broadcast by Spring24 Television. In this video, it was reported that on May, 9 2022 in Lusaka District of Lusaka3, the three women (now suspects) whilst on a minibus, were robbed of money amounting to K3, 200 thus; Tanaka Nhandu K2,500, Dorica Mbewe K500 and Isabel Stevens K200. The three further alleged that they were taken to Chibolya compound where they were raped,” he said.
Mr Kajoba said the suspects then lodged a false report at Embassy Police Post.
Mr Kajoba noted with concern a tendency on reports fake abductions which created a seemingly unsafe environment in the country.
“What we have so far observed through our investigations is that most of these persons reporting these false abduction cases have an element of wanting to either extort money from their relatives or defraud their employers,” he said.
Mr Kajoba however , said that Zambia Police Service had continued investigating and have placed the case of the alleged abduction of Pamela Chisupa as a priority.
He said police would not rest until her whereabouts were known and would use all legal means at their disposal to resolve the matter.
“I am also appealing to the general public not to entertain persons calling falsely alleging to have sent money wrongly to your mobile money account especially when such persons are urging you to send back the money quickly. Instead members of the public are urged to take their time to check if such claims are true,” he said.
