Police raid wedding, groom held for stocktheft

Lindiwe Mozola | Wednesday December 16, 2015 16:05

 

Guests watched in shock as the police stormed the event and arrested the groom who was also allegedly implicated in the theft.

“It was very embarrassing as the wedding had to stop while we handcuffed the groom and took away the carcass for investigations,” said Letlhakane Police Station commander, Michael Maphephu, who made the arrest.

He said that a day before the wedding, the groom allegedly bought a cow that was to be slaughtered for the wedding occasion from a certain 44-year-old herdsman in Mokubilo.

Mokubilo falls under the jurisdiction of Letlhakane police.

“It appears that both the groom and the herdsman partly connived to steal the cow,” Maphephu alleged. “In addition, under the agreement the groom paid half price for the estimated value of the cow. We received a report of stocktheft and investigations led us to Borolong village where the wedding was being held.”

He added that both the herdsman and the groom were charged with stocktheft. The two were not in custody and would appear in court next week where formal charges would be laid. The two initially appeared in a customary court, but the matter has since been referred to the magistrate court.

He advised Batswana to refrain from buying stolen goods, saying that before purchasing anything they should first seek appropriate documents legitimising the transaction.

In another matter, Letlhakane police are investigating a case in which 34 goats were struck dead by lightning during a thunderstorm at Letsibogo ward in Letlhakane. Maphephu said the lightning hit the goats as they were in the kraal killing all of them.