POLICE in Nchelenge have arrested a pupil who hired a friend to write Grade 12 final examinations on his behalf.

Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela identified the pupil as Isaac Sibenga, aged 21, while his friend is Henry Mulenga, 24, both of Nchelenge District in Luapula Province.

The alleged impersonator and the pupil have been arrested, bringing the number of pupils arrested in connection with Grade 12 examination malpractices to 50 from 48.

"Two more people were arrested yesterday after it was discovered that a pupil had hired his friend to write the examination on his behalf, after forging the National Registration Card and wrote all the papers for his friend up to yesterday when he was caught," she said.

Ms Kanjela said 18 pupils had already appeared in court while the remaining 30 would appear in the magistrate's court today. The pupils are from Mabumba High School in Mansa and Samfya High School.

Police have warned would-be culprits that they would not hesitate to arrest anyone found in similar offences.

In Northern Province, police have arrested a Grade Seven school boy of Luwengwe Basic School in Luwingu for defiling a Grade One pupil from the same school.

Ms Kanjela said in Lusaka yesterday that the incident happened on Independence Day in a lavatory.

The girl who was a neighbour of the accused person had gone to the lavatory but took too long.

That prompted her cousin to follow her only to find her lying on the floor.

"Her cousin then decided to inform her aunt who is a teacher at the same school, and was staying with her.

"The aunt rushed there and asked her who had asked her to lie on the floor," Ms Kanjela said.

According to investigations, the girl had been defiled by the suspect on three occasions in different places. The accused has been charged with one count of defilement.