* The lifeless body was found lying next to a hacksaw and the wires cut from the transformer
* Police has since warned the public against tampering with electric infrastructure, as it poses a health risk and it is also an offence
Maravi Express
An unidentified man has been electrocuted at Gravity Mall in Lilongwe City Centre in a suspected vandalism act gone wrong.
According to Lingadzi Police Station deputy public relations officer, Maria Kumwenda, a lifeless body of the man was found on the morning of today, November 10 and it is suspected that he was electrocuted while cutting copper wires from an Electricity Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) transformer at the mall.
The body was found lying next to a hacksaw and the wires cut from the transformer.
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Kumwenda has since warned the public against tampering with electric infrastructure, as it poses a health risk and it is also an offence.
“We are appealing to the public to refrain from vandalising critical infrastructure,” she said while urging members of the public to identify the body at the mortuary of Kamuzu Central Hospital.
Tampering with ESCOM assets is an offence which contravenes Electricity Act of 2024 and attracts a 20-year jail term and an option of a K100 million fine.
Vandalism of ESCOM infrastructure keeps being reported and include culprits being electrocuted in the process and it is largely suspected that most of the vandals are former ESCOM employees, who got fired.
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