News / National
Man 'stole' 400 cattle, dragged to court
06 Sep 2013 at 12:29hrs | Views
A senior member of the Johane Marange Apostolic Church allegedly stole over 400 cattle in Masvingo and surrounding provinces which he used to pay farm workers, a Bikita magistrate heard on Tuesday.
Bonface Janyure, 53, of Matotote Village under Chief Mukanganwi appeared before Bikita Magistrate Bishard Chineka facing 400 counts of stock theft.
Prosecutor Richard Nyamumba told the court the case came to light last week after Janyure was involved in a heated exchange of words with one of his hired employees.
It is alleged Janyure operated a syndicate of cattle rustlers in areas like Bikita, Chiredzi, Odzi, and Chipinge.
The stolen cattle would be transported to his farm near Roy Resettlement area in Masvingo.
The disgruntled employee reported the dispute to the police who became suspicious by the huge number of cattle on Janyure's farm, prompting investigations which bust the alleged cattle's rustling ring.
Janyure was subsequently arrested.
Police have since recovered 80 cattle.
Janyure was remanded in custody to next week and if convicted, the crime attracts over 100 years in prison.
Bonface Janyure, 53, of Matotote Village under Chief Mukanganwi appeared before Bikita Magistrate Bishard Chineka facing 400 counts of stock theft.
Prosecutor Richard Nyamumba told the court the case came to light last week after Janyure was involved in a heated exchange of words with one of his hired employees.
It is alleged Janyure operated a syndicate of cattle rustlers in areas like Bikita, Chiredzi, Odzi, and Chipinge.
The disgruntled employee reported the dispute to the police who became suspicious by the huge number of cattle on Janyure's farm, prompting investigations which bust the alleged cattle's rustling ring.
Janyure was subsequently arrested.
Police have since recovered 80 cattle.
Janyure was remanded in custody to next week and if convicted, the crime attracts over 100 years in prison.
Source - daily news
