‘Cattle rustling syndicate’ appears in court
Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday May 23, 2023 06:00
The state alleges that Kemoiponetse Gaobotswe, a firefighter, Gaobotswe Oweditsemang Jakalas, and Zimbabweans, Courage Moyo and Ndokeko Ncube, were found in possession of a herd of 12 cattle with an estimated value of P60,000 bearing varying brand marks and earmarks on April 26.
On the second indictment, the state alleges Moemedi Lawrence and Abednico Sereme on or about April 26 at or near Mhatane cattle post collaborating for a common cause stole a herd of three cattle of different colours and brands valued at P15,000 belonging to Dipuo Zhiro.
On the third charge, the state alleges on or about April 26 at or near Mhatane cattle post, Lawrence stole a Tshumo beast earmarked 'Lephaga' on the left ear and 'Tlhako ya Phala' on the right ear which was branded D1 over RN and now branded BY over YC on top of D1 over RN valued at P5,000, belonging to Gosaitse Leso.
On the fourth indictment, the state alleges that on April 26 at or near Mhatane cattle post, Lawrence and Sereme stole a 'Tshunyana Thokwana' cow earmarked 'Lephaga' on the right ear now inserted with a yellow tag written Abdenico Sereme and bearing cellphone number 76613301 and 78072797 and branded LH over ER valued at P5,000.
On the fifth charge, the state alleges that a 'Tshetlhana' cow branded BJ over B6 and earmarked 'Sekei x2' on the right ear and 'Tlhako ya Phala' on the left ear, valued at P5,000 was also stolen on April 26 at or near Mhatane cattle post. When the accused appeared virtually at a court mention that was held at the Francistown High Court before Magistrate Tshepo Magetse, Assistant Superintendent Oteng Selalame prayed with the court to set the matter for May 30 to enable the accused's attorneys to attend court on that date.
Selalame also told the court that investigations into the matters are continuing adding that they anticipate completing them after May 30. “Some of the owners of the stolen cattle have not come forward to identify them.
Some of the cattle were stolen in Tutume and Mhatane which prolongs our investigations... We are left with the 12 cattle which have not been identified. We will see if we can hand over the matters to the Divisional Prosecution Unit of the Botswana Police Service or the Directorate of Public Prosecutions,” said Selalame.
Magistrate Magetse then set the matter for May 30 and remanded Moyo and Ncube in custody because they didn’t have proper documents authorising them to stay in the country.