Less than 24 hours after the Malawi Police warned the public to avoid creating and sharing misleading information on social media about ongoing murder investigations, three individuals in Blantyre have been arrested for breaching the same, an offence against the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act. To be more specific, the police has detained three women suspected of being the source and disseminators of false and damaging information that has garnered significant attention on social media regarding the ongoing murder investigations in Lilongwe.
The three, who have been arrested in Blantyre and Lilongwe are Mercy Chiligo, Chipiriro Kalima and Sub Inspector Susan Kachinga (Police Officer).
“MPS has charged the three with Cyber Bullying and Defamation of Character which are crimes under the Electronic Transactions and Cyber-Security Act and Penal code, respectively. They will be taken to court in Blantyre soon after their statements are taken,” reads a statement signed by Service Public Relations Officer Peter Kalaya.
The statement added that “the Service reminds Malawians that it is a criminal offence to author and circulate false information using electronic gadgets and the internet, and that anyone involved will be arrested and prosecuted.”
