By JAMES KUNDA –

FIVE people masquerading as law enforcement officers have been arrested in connection with the recent apprehension, abduction and extortion of money from non-Zambians in Lusaka.
The five suspects were arrested by a team of Immigration and Police officers for asking foreign nationals to produce immigration documentation whilst threatening them with false imprisonment.
A Toyota Corona registration number ABF 7271, pair of handcuffs, police beacon, a white shirt and cap similar to those of Immigration Department uniform were used in the commissioning of the crimes.
The suspects have been remanded in custody and charged with extortion, theft by public servant, forgery and utterly, obtaining money by false pretences and impersonation.
Police public relations officer Charity Chanda and her Immigration counterpart Namati Nshinka confirmed the arrest of the quintet in a joint statement yesterday.
Ms Chanda said the items used on the commissioning of the crimes were also recovered from the suspects.
“The five suspects have been identified as Mailoni Mushala, Kelly Czenry, Emmanuel Chileya, Henry Nyirenda, and Ignatius Chonto.
“They were in possession of Immigration, Police and Anti-Corruption Commission identity cards,” Ms Chanda said.
She said the suspects threatened the victims with false imprisonment to the extent of driving them near police stations or prisons so as to instill fear in them and force them to give in to their demands.
“These are not by any means isolated incidents. A number of robberies, kidnappings and extortions in the same manner have taken place in Lusaka in the past few months,” she added.
She urged members of the public who may have had been swindled in the same manner to come forward and identify the suspects.