Deputy Police Publicist Rabecca Kashoti has identified the suspect as Joseph Ayani aged 47 who allegedly stole the motorbike belonging to Peterson Manford on July 23, 2022.

Kashoti says Peterson parked his motorcycle at the house of one of the herbalists but when returning, he found that it was not there.

"It is reported that on the particular day around 18:00 hours, the owner of the motorcycle, Peterson Manford, was riding his Lifo motorcycle and decided to stop at Msikita Residence and whilst there he packed his motorcycle near the houses and entered one of the houses to collect herbs," he said.

She added that on the evening of July 24, 2022, a mob apprehended and drenched the suspect with petrol in order to set him alight, thanks to police's timely rescue.

He comes from Kululira Village, Traditional Authority Nthiramanja in Mulanje.