Police crack computer syndicate

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Thursday March 22, 2007 00:00

Tatitown police station commander Superintendent Seabe Maboka said yesterday that Kagiso Simane, 24, an employee of Botswana Life Insurance Company, Mbiganyi Moloi, 30, and Milidzani Mokgethi, 24, both unemployed, are helping them with investigations following the recovery of electronic equipment.

He was hopeful that the recent arrests would help his officers recover some of the electronic equipment stolen after several break-ins. He would not reveal the number of recovered computers and television sets and their value, as police investigations were ongoing.

The police chief said until their arrest, the trio had been causing havoc at Chadibe village, west of Francistown. They are facing charges of breaking into a customary court, shop break-ins and theft, bar break-ins  and theft, school break-ins  and theft and others.

The accused first appeared for mention recently and are scheduled to appear again on March 28.

'This syndicate has been terrorising villagers by stealing computers and television sets. The same group is suspected to have defrauded a cash loan business within Francistown,' said Maboka.

'We view the arrest of the trio as a major breakthrough because we suspect that they could have taken part in the break-ins  of shops in Mathangwane, theft of computers at the Francistown Senior Secondary School and others.'

Maboka was positive that the ongoing police investigations would finally help them solve some of the outstanding cases.

Police are holding some of the recovered computer monitors and CPUs (Computer Processing Units) and other valuables, as exhibits.

He hailed the assistance that members of the community continue to render to the police adding that it was really helpful as they continue making arrests as their investigations mature. Two of the suspected fraudsters are still on the loose.

Meanwhile, Kutlwano police have raised an alarm to unsuspecting people to be on the lookout for young men who are  defrauding people and businesses of their hard earned monies.

Superintendent Mosalagae Moseki became aware of the fraudsters recently following a report lodged by a local cash loan business that there was a group of young men who produce false bank statements, false pay slips and get money from the cash loans and disappear.

' Currently, we are holding two people in connection with the latest reported case with a view to establishing any link with other similar cases that are still pending before the police,' observed Moseki.

The police are hopeful that their investigations would help in the arrest of two more people who are also suspected to be involved in defrauding people.