16 Aug 2020

A 24-year-old man of Nanana ward in Tutume last week appeared before Masunga Magistrate Court charged with theft and malicious damage to property.

In an interview, Tutume police station commander, Superintendent Jerry Halahala, said the man was caught while destroying three streets lights worth about P21 000 along Senete-Tutume road. 

He allegedly stole power supplier controllers.

Supt Halahala said police officers arrested the culprit on the night of August 12. 

He said the suspect had destroyed the newly installed solar streets that were part of the P281 million Tutume infrastructure development project.

Superintendent Halahala said the police had managed to recover two controllers and were still in search of the remaining one. 

He highlighted that last year, they had a similar case in which the culprits were illegal immigrants from neighbouring Zimbabwe, who had destroyed street lights and stole solar panels and batteries.

He, however, said fortunately with the assistance from their counterparts across the border, they managed to recover some of the stolen goods and the culprits had since been charged and were serving their time in prison. 

Superintendent Halahala said the current perpetrator, if found guilty, was likely to face a long term imprisonment. Ends