23 Nov 2017

Police in Bobonong have arrested three men found in possession of game meat suspected to be of a giraffe they allegedly killed at Mashatu Game Reserve.

In an interview, Bobonong Police Station commander, Superintendent Paul Seoko said on November 22 that the three men who are all residents of Bobonong were arraigned before court charged with unlawful possession of a government trophy.

The accused are aged 32, 43 and 47 aqnd were arrested at Mabeleng ward after a tip-off.

Supt Seoko said a gun was suspected to have been used to kill the giraffe and a car used to transport the game meat has been confiscated while investigations continue.

He said part of the meat was prepared as biltong, while a head and tail, which were still in their possession could be intended for sale.

The men originate from Borotsi and Mogapi wards.

In another case also involving poaching, Supt Seoko said they arrested a Zimbabwean man aged 46 and a local aged 37 of Lepokole and charged them with unlawful possession of eight rabbits and two spring hares they killed in Lepokole in the early hours of November 21.

The two men, he said, were nabbed during the police operation that started early Wednesday code named Basadi that is aimed at arresting suspects who are on the run wanted for various criminal offences around the country.

The two men are suspected to have used dogs and torches to kill the wild animals at night and would be fined P1 000 each for the offence, if found guilty.

The station commander further stated that since November 1 to date, they have arrested 59 illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, some of whom are employed by locals without work permits.

Supt Seoko explained that a larger number of illegal immigrants were employed mainly in Leribe lands and appealed to residents to help them to arrest people that habour illegal immigrants.

Concerning incidents of obtaining by false pretences, he explained that this year they recorded three cases and have since arrested a Mmadinare resident for the offence.

Supt Seoko said the man was arrested while he was still in the process of swindling one woman of some money after he purported to be an employee of Sefalana and that he would sell her grocery at a discounted price.

The men, whose targets are women, are also said to have swindled an intern based at Matshekge Senior Secondary School of P5 400, P600 from a Gobojango resident, P400 and P1 200 from a Tobane resident, which money they withdrew from an Automated Teller Machine.

He said in some instances, they claimed to be traditional doctors having the power to heal.

About drugs, Supt Seoko said they were making a breakthrough in arresting drug peddlers in the area, saying the most drugs that was common in the area was marijuana.

The substance, he said, was commonly sold at tuck shops and car washes. ENDS