The suspects have pending cases of stock theft in the
courts. They were arrested on Tuesday with a truck laden with 10 cows and an ox
at the CSC depot in Bulawayo trying to sell the livestock suspected to have
been stolen from neighbouring Botswana as the animals did not bear local cattle
brand marks.
Police identified the suspects as Trust Mpofu (37) of
Nkulumane suburb, Prince Dube (40) of John West village under Chief Marupi and
31-year-old Mthuthukisi Msizi of Pumula North suburb.
A CSC official briefed Chronicle yesterday morning on how
an alert police officer who is stationed at the abattoir noticed that the
documents presented by the trio were missing a vital stamp from the police
station where they claimed the animals had been cleared for transportation to
Bulawayo, where they would be ultimately sold to any abattoir in the city.
The alert police officer then contacted her counterparts
from the Anti-Stock Unit who arrested the three suspects on stock theft
charges.
Mpofu, Dube and Msizi were detained at Donnington Police
Station while police continued with investigations. The truck used to ferry the
cattle was impounded and is being held at the same police station.
CSC’s operations and production co-ordinator Mr Beit
Tonderai Rinashe said the abattoir has a foolproof system that is designed to
prevent stolen cattle from being sold or slaughtered at the facility.
“We believe the cattle were stolen from Botswana and the
suspects tried selling them here but CSC has systems in place that scrutinise
documents such as movement permits and police clearance certificates.
“We work hand in hand with the police and in this
particular case an officer from ZRP noticed that the suspects were using a
doctored document and we immediately called the Anti-Stock Theft Unit,” said Mr
Rinashe.
After doing their due diligence, the Anti-Stock Theft Unit
was satisfied that the cattle were stolen and arrested the suspects.
“CSC would like to assure farmers that stolen cattle will
not be slaughtered here as we cross-check all the necessary documents to make
sure that the animals have been cleared by the relevant authorities,” he said.
One of the beasts died on arrival and the meat was donated
to a wildlife sanctuary.
“Initially there were 12 cattle but one died on arrival at
CSC. We slaughtered it and donated the meat to the Chipangali Wildlife
Orphanage where the meat will be fed to crocodiles,” he said.
The suspects yesterday afternoon appeared before Bulawayo
provincial magistrate Mrs Nomagugu Maphosa. Ms Dorcas Maphosa prosecuted.
They were remanded in custody until 24 December for bail
ruling. Ms Maphosa told the court that on 17 December at CSC, the trio was
found with the cattle, which they failed to account for.
“The State has overwhelming evidence against the accused
persons in that they were found with cattle that do not belong to them,” she
said.
In opposing bail, Ms Maphosa told the court that the trio
has pending cases related to stock theft.
“The State prays for the accused persons to be remanded in
custody.” Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment