Three dockets go missing at police station

DIRANG LEKUNTWANE
Correspondent | Thursday March 10, 2011 00:00

 

Two of the files are for rape and the other is an assault case. According to the Station Commander, superintendent Ogaufi George, the three files that were to be presented in court vanished some time last year and to date no light has been shed on the matter.

'Sometime last year we started experiencing the disappearance of dockets in my station and so far three dockets have mysteriously vanished. Two are for rape cases and the other for assault occassioning actual bodily harm. So far the Officer Commanding Tsabong has appointed someone to investigate the matter,' he revealed. The investigation, he said, is beingconducted from within and outside the police parameters, depending on where the information can be dug up.

George said that although files are kept safely locked up in the prosecution unit, it remains to be seen how the dockets could have disappeared. However, a resident of the village, who identified herself as Margaret, said the police were not doing enough to safeguard the lives of people. 'The police in this village are not taking us seriously. What is worrying is that the two dockets of rape and another of robbery belong to one person. I have even heard that up to eight dockets have disappeared from the station and the police are just not doing enough.

These criminals are roaming the streets and putting our lives in danger,'  she said. Recently the Head of Arbitration, Kgosi Phori raised concern regarding police handling of criminal issues in his village. He indictated that there was a likelihood of police involvement in crimes such as the theft of livestock.

'My belief is that the police are colluding with thieves in stealing the cattle because even if you report the latter (thieves) to them, they will not do anything, instead they tell you to go and investigate and come to them once you have established something. I once had my horse stolen and killed by a thief and I reported the matter to the police, but Simon (police officer), told me to go and investigate first. Even though I told him the thief is right there eating my horse, he never did anything until today, my horse is gone. I have given up. This is ridiculous!' Kgosi Phori exclaimed.

'Cattle thieves here do not steal but they take our livestock in broad daylight. A thief will steal your cattle and once you complain to him that this is your cattle, he will be angry with you and even ask you questions about what is yours. They steal everything, cattle, sheep, goats, horses and even prowl on chickens at night when residents are fast asleep.

This is painful because even if they are caught by the police, they are later released on bail and it takes long for them to be prosecuted. While outside they continue to steal in order to pay their lawyers and be discharged,' he said.