ESCOM investigators received a tip-off from members of the public that 30 poles that were stolen at Liwonde, Machinga district, were being used to construct an electric line at Central Poultry (CP Foods) farms in Kasungu.

According to a press release by ESCOM, investigators inspected the site and identified 11 poles which were clearly marked as belonging to ESCOM and were imported from Zimbabwe. Another set of poles were also discovered at the site but had their marks removed

“Mr Kapelemela told the investigator that he bought the ESCOM poles from an ESCOM employee who is currently on the run. ESCOM is still ascertaining the identity of those poles,” reads part of the statement.

In a related development, Police at Kanengo are keeping in custody Phillip Joseph Lipulo for impersonating an ESCOM employee and attempting to extort money from an ESCOM customer.

ESCOM investigators received a tip-off that Lipulo was demanding K60,000 from a customer to install an electric meter at the customer’s house. The customer gave him K20,000 and promised to pay him the balance within an hour.

The customer then alerted ESCOM investigators who,together with police officers, rushed to the scene and arrested the suspect.

Upon interrogation, Lipulo alleged that he works for Julius Electrical Contractors and got the materials from an ESCOM installation in Area 5 within Lilongwe City. His accomplice is still on the run.

However ESCOM says it sincerely appreciates the support and cooperation it is receiving from its customers and the general public which helps the corporation to bust such criminal syndicates.