News / Regional
Goat stealing syndicate smashed, trio stole 37 goats
29 Aug 2012 at 04:54hrs | Views
THREE Beitbridge men were yesterday arraigned before the courts for allegedly stealing 37 goats belonging to a local businessman, Mr Salatiel Roy Muleya, worth $2 000 before smuggling some of the animals to South Africa. The trio is reportedly linked to a notorious syndicate that is involved in stealing and smuggling goats into South Africa through undesignated entry points along the Limpopo River.
Mudzimundirege Mbedzi (52), believed to be the mastermind and residing at Mapai Village, John Shoko (30) and Livingstone Mbedzi (23) both of Goda Village under Chief Matibe in Beitbridge pleaded not guilty to stocktheft as defined in Section 114 of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act, Chapter 9:23 when they appeared before Beitbridge provincial resident magistrate Ms Gloria Takundwa.
They were remanded in custody to 4 September.
In denying them bail, the court noted that if given bail, there was no guarantee that the trio would not abscond due to the gravity of the offence.
It was further argued that since the three were operating as a syndicate involving several other suspects operating from South Africa, there was a likelihood that they would interfere with ongoing police investigations if granted bail.
The prosecutor, Ms Memory Mandityira, said on 16 July at about 6pm, Mudzimundirege hatched a plan to steal goats from the complainant.
He then went to Mr Muleya's homestead at Goda Village where he teamed up with the other two accused persons.
The court heard that Mbedzi approached Livingstone and Shoko and offered to give them R1 000 so that they could assist him drive the stolen goats to his homestead and the two men complied.
Mudzimundirege Mbedzi (52), believed to be the mastermind and residing at Mapai Village, John Shoko (30) and Livingstone Mbedzi (23) both of Goda Village under Chief Matibe in Beitbridge pleaded not guilty to stocktheft as defined in Section 114 of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act, Chapter 9:23 when they appeared before Beitbridge provincial resident magistrate Ms Gloria Takundwa.
They were remanded in custody to 4 September.
In denying them bail, the court noted that if given bail, there was no guarantee that the trio would not abscond due to the gravity of the offence.
It was further argued that since the three were operating as a syndicate involving several other suspects operating from South Africa, there was a likelihood that they would interfere with ongoing police investigations if granted bail.
The prosecutor, Ms Memory Mandityira, said on 16 July at about 6pm, Mudzimundirege hatched a plan to steal goats from the complainant.
He then went to Mr Muleya's homestead at Goda Village where he teamed up with the other two accused persons.
The court heard that Mbedzi approached Livingstone and Shoko and offered to give them R1 000 so that they could assist him drive the stolen goats to his homestead and the two men complied.
Source - TC
