Former Northern Region Police Headquarters Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer Harry Mbewe has told a Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee that the accident scene was tampered with. Mbewe, the lead investigator, stated that some bodies were moved from their original positions and placed in body bags. He noted that this was not standard procedure, as investigators usually wait for CID officers to arrive and document the scene.
Mbewe, now working in the Central East Region, made these remarks during a hearing at Sunbird Mzuzu. He highlighted that investigators from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) conducted their probe without assistance from Malawi Police investigators. Mbewe cited this arrangement as a challenge that may have left out critical details in the investigation into the June 10 2024 crash.
The Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee is investigating the military plane crash that occurred on June 10 2024. Mbewe's testimony provided insight into the early stages of the investigation. He mentioned that he was occupied when mobile phones were handed to him and ended up passing them to another officer. However, he could not describe the status of the phones found close to the body of Chilima.
Northern Region Police Headquarters senior operations officer Christopher Mwamande also testified before the committee. He stated that he was part of the search and rescue team led by then Northern Region Police Commissioner Richard Luhanga and his deputy Glinton Mitayi. Mwamande corroborated earlier submissions by Luhanga and Mitayi, describing the discovery of the plane wreckage with six bodies.
Mwamande received two phones from Mitayi and handed them over to CID officers. He described the phones as dusty and oily but assumed they were in good condition. Mulanje North legislator Gilbert Khonyongwa asked Mwamande if all items recovered at the crash site were handed over to CID officers, and he responded in the affirmative.
Department of Civil Aviation senior fire officer Toby Khunga also testified before the committee. He stated that his team set out for the search and rescue mission on the afternoon of June 10 2024, equipped with fire-fighting equipment and ready for rescue. The committee heard various testimonies as part of its investigation into the military plane crash.
The investigation into the Chikangawa military plane crash continues, with the Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee gathering evidence and testimonies from various individuals involved in the search and rescue efforts. The committee aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding the crash and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Key points
- The Chikangawa military plane crash site was tampered with, complicating investigations.
- Investigators from the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) conducted their probe without assistance from Malawi Police investigators.
- The Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee is gathering evidence and testimonies to uncover the circumstances surrounding the June 10 2024 crash.
