Four Tanzanians jailed for theft

[rosemarie]

Four (4) Tanzanian nationals appeared before a Francistown magistrate last Wednesday after they were found in possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.

31-year-old Amiry Mohamed Ally, Francis Alexander Maganga, 26, Bernard Vedasto Mpinzile aged 29-years and 28-year-old Kelvin Micheal Mgosi all from Dar es Salam, Tanzania appeared before Francistown Chief Magistrate Gaedupe Makgato.


The East African quartet faced a single count of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.


They are alleged to have stolen the vehicle outside Botswana.

In court, they were not asked to plead to the charges as police told court that investigations into the matter were still fresh.

According to evidence before court, the men were nabbed by the police on Valentine's Day near Ngwasha Veterinary Gate along the Nata-Kazungula road driving a Land Rover Discovery 4 bearing South African registration plates.


During their court appearance, the prosecutor Thulaganyo Pitso pleaded with court to remand them saying investigations into the matter were still fresh.

According to the prosecution, investigating a case involving cross border crimes takes time because officers are expected to liaise with their counterparts in South Africa where the vehicle is suspected to have been stolen

He also said police were yet to verify authenticity of the travelling documents with the Immigration Department.

He also expressed fear that the four accused persons might skip the country in their bid to abscond from the matter.

Asked to speak, the men claimed they bought the vehicle in South Africa and did not know that it was stolen.

Makgato remanded them in custody until the 4th of March 2015.

Source: thevoicebw