14 Oct 2019

A syndicate of suspected armed robbers has been remanded in custody pending investigations on a spate of armed robberies which started last year in Kgalagadi District.

Botswana Police Service Kgalagadi District Officer Commanding, Makgophe Oageng said they have so far arrested six suspects who were linked to criminal activities in the district.

The suspects were arrested last week after they attacked an old man at his cattle-post about five kilometres from Lokgwabe in Kgalagadi North.

It is alleged that the armed robbers, who were driving a white sedan, got into the victim’s farm and pretended that their vehicle had overheated and needed water.

They kidnapped the old man and went off with him to Lokgwabe at his house where they demanded money amounting to P25 000.

The suspects, who had masked their facial identity, also concealed the number plates of the vehicle they used.

After stealing his money the old man was found dumped in Hukuntsi, but not harmed.

 He said one of the suspected armed robbers was related to the old man and that investigations were still at an early stage to ascertain how they were related, and how they plotted the whole activity.

In other cases linked to the suspects, police investigations were ongoing regarding criminal activities in the district which included break-ins where suspects entered a house of a business couple in Werda and stole cash amounting to P20 000.

One of the robbery victims sustained an injury in the process.

Officer Commanding divulged that since 2018 Kgalagadi District started to experience a spate of armed robberies that left no trails.

He said they were unable to apprehend perpetrators until a tip-off on the current armed robbery in Lokgwabe which linked the suspects to most of the robberies committed since last year.

Furthermore, investigations have also linked the suspects to a vehicle robbery in South Africa which was found burnt to ashes and the victim dead.

However, investigations were still ongoing.

He said the robberies were alleged to have been committed by a syndicate of criminals.

So far six of the suspects have been remanded in custody while more were still on the loose.

The suspects appeared at Tsabong Magistrate Court on Friday. ENDs