Two suspects who went to Nebo Police station in Sekhukhune District yesterday to report that their motor vehicle was hijacked, were arrested for perjury and stocktheft when it came to light that the said vehicle was in fact not hijacked but was torched by angry community members after they were allegedly found stealing goats at Diphagane village in the early hours of Friday, 10 February 2023.
The suspects managed to escape from the raging mob but the driver went to fetch his girlfriend and convinced her to pretend to be the witness in the hijacking incident for insurance purposes.
The driver of the “hijacked” Ford bakkie then went to the Police station, joined by a female companion and reported that he was with the woman when three armed men driving in a VW Polo hijacked his motor vehicle at Ga-Phaahla village.
A case of carjacking was then opened but upon further questioning, it was established that the man had lied, and that the alleged hijacked vehicle was set alight by angry community members at Diphagane village after the suspect and his three accomplices were caught offloading goats that were stolen at Ga-Phaahla village earlier on.
Subsequent to investigation, the other suspect was arrested at his homestead in Ga-Phaahla and all the eleven stolen goats were recovered. The lawful owner of the goats was also successfully located.
The three suspects aged between 24 and 34 are expected to appear before the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 13 February 2023 facing charges of perjury and stock theft.
Anyone with information that can lead to arrest of the remaining suspects should contact Detective Sergeant Lebogang Mabitsela on 071 392 1844 or the crime stop number 0860010111.