#Malawi vs #Algeria game ticket fraud by Mphatso Malidadi @bnltimes Police have arrested Mcdonald Kuwani and Jacob Magombo for being found with and selling tickets for Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Malawi and Algeria. The fraud exposes security flaws in the pre-match ticket sells system and sources say over K5 million worth of tickets were reportedly confiscated. The source says the fraud is an inside job in which top officials at the Kamuzu Stadium are involved. Kuwani and Magombo were discovered after the two approached Fam sales agent at Ndirande Market Gift Mleme to consider buying the tickets at wholesale. Though the tickets looked genuine, Mleme declined and later reported the issue to Fam, who in turn sought help from the Police. The feedback Fam received from Kamuzu Stadium where the pre-match ticket sells started last week is that the tickets went missing from the stadium, an explanation which did not satisfy Fam, which in turn reported to the Police. Mleme refused to comment, saying Fam was better placed to make a statement. Fam general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed the incident but declined to give more details as investigations were underway. “We are really disturbed because the tickets are genuine,” he said. “We can’t pin-point fingers as who is the culprit since our distribution network is somehow complicated. “We have several agents who distribute the tickets. We will wait for the Police to conclude the investigation.” Kamuzu Stadium manager Charles Mhango could not comment since the matter is now under police investigation. Southern Region Police publicist Nicholas Gondwa said the two would appear in court to answer theft charges. “We took a statement and one of them is refusing to disclose where he got the tickets. We have been told that Magombo went to borrow money from Kuwani who said he did not have money to spare. “Kuwani instead provided an original booklet of tickets to help Magombo raise money. Each ticket on the booklet costs K5,000 but they sold about 18 leaflets at K2,000 each before they were arrested,” he said. Gondwa, who refused to mention the number of leaflets per each booklet, said both Fam and Kamuzu Stadium authorities were cooperating with the Police. “We have taken statements from Fam and Kamuzu Stadium officials and they all have different version ranging from how the tickets were cleared and distributed to the agents. Investigations are still going on,” he said. Gondwa also disclosed that Kuwani has refused to reveal where he got the tickets. timesmediamw/algeria-game-ticket-fraud/
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 18:59:21 +0000
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