Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika, [email protected]
A SUSPECTED cattle rustler nabbed for allegedly possessing five carcasses of stolen cattle valued about US$2 250 last month, was on Thursday further remanded in custody to September 11 pending trial.
Bhekilizwe Nyathi (43) was arrested during an operation, a coordinated effort between the police, neighbourhood watch committee members, residents and the business community. His two accomplices escaped, prompting police to launch a manhunt.
Nyathi appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Beverly Madzikatire facing stock theft charges.
Prosecuting, Ms Dorcas Maphosa said on 27 August, a member of the neighbourhood watch committee noticed a suspiciously parked vehicle in Nkulumane suburb.
The vehicle was parked outside the yard of the neighbourhood watch committee member’s workplace. When he went to investigate, he noticed that the car’s load box was full of cattle carcasses.
Ms Maphosa said Nyathi was in the company of two other suspects.
“The neighbourhood watch committee member requested to see a permit from the driver that authorised him to carry the carcasses. The other two suspects tried to bribe him before they later fled the scene,” she said.
The court heard that in their attempt to flee, they assaulted the neighbourhood watch committee member with the back of an axe on the mouth. After the assault, they jumped onto the back of the vehicle and held onto the canopy as the driver tried to drive off.
“Members of the public gave chase only for the vehicle to stop in Nkulumane 12 suburb. They got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. Members of the public only managed to apprehend Nyathi and took him to Nkulumane Police Station,” said Ms Maphosa.
Investigations revealed that the cattle were stolen from a farmer in Hope Fountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
The owner of the stolen cattle managed to positively identify the carcasses through markings.
Nyathi is being represented by Mr Tapiwa Solani of Sengweni Legal Practice.
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