Four arrested for alleged cattle theft near Otavi

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Four suspected cattle rustlers were arrested on a commercial farm near Otavi on Friday and Saturday after they allegedly illegally sold 69 Bonsmara and Santa Gertrudis cattle from the farm over four months.

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) spokesperson in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha, in an interview with Nampa on Monday said the male suspects are aged 25, 27, 34 and 52 and are cattle herders at Farm Hohental, where they also reside.

“The total loss on these 69 Bonsmara and Santa Gertrudis cattle is nearly N.dollar 1.2 million,” said Mbeha.

She further explained that the suspects between May and August this year allegedly loaded cattle from the farm illegally by using an outside accomplice, who transported the animals to an auction pen at Otavi, where they were sold.

The 41-year-old farm owner who opened the case does not reside on the farm as he owns another private commercial farming area situated about 35 kilometres away from Hohental, Mbeha said.

Their arrest was only made possible after a tip-off from a member of the public, who informed the owner and the police on 08 August 2022 that several cattle were being loaded from the farm, Mbeha said.

A stock count was then launched by the owner on Farm Hohental, and it was then allegedly discovered that about 70 cattle were missing, Mbeha added.

The suspects were arrested on charges of stock theft and are expected to appear in the Otavi Magistrate’s Court this week.

So far no recovery has been made and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency