- – suspects allegedly tampered with chassis numbers
Law enforcement officers have finally closed in on a syndicate, involved in tampering with chassis numbers of grey export vehicles earmarked for the Namibian market.
Last week Friday, 48-year-old Kabelo Jacob was arraigned before Francistown Magistrate’s Court for tampering with the chassis number body of a white Madza Demio motor vehicle.
Jacob who resides at Block 9, Mogoditshane joins his co accused Johnny Marungu Mema, from Namibia who was arrested and has been in remand since March this year for the same offence.
According to evidence brought in court, Mema was nabbed by the cops in Francistown when trying to clear the white Madza Demio on transit to Namibia. However, the motor vehicle chassis number was reportedly different from the one stated on the car registration book.
“The chassis number was tampered with. The vehicle in question is a white Madza Demio registration B 676 BMN, the chassis number read BE3F5363263 different from the one in the registration book. It reads BE3F5303283. The car was on transit to Namibia and 39-year-old Mema is the owner and driver of the vehicle,” testified Sergeant Dira Tsagae.
During the bail hearing for Jacob, Sergeant Tsagae said Jacob had been arrested on Thursday and police were yet to question for the offence, together with his Namibian counterpart.
“We humbly request Jacob be remanded for at least 14 days to enable us to search his place of residence. The accused person and another yet to be apprehended are alleged to have in possession of false police stamps, which they used in their dealings. We need to find those stamps and other evidence,” continued the investigating officer.
In response, 48-year Jacob who purported to work as a transport officer pleaded for bail on grounds that he is of ill health.
“I recently underwent a kidney operation, and I have not fully recovered. Furthermore, I am sickly and diabetic, my health is bad,” said Jacob, a resident of Mogoditshane Block 9.
Principal Magistrate Ditebogo Ntuli granted police 14 days relief to carry out their search and investigations while Jacob is remanded till June 1st, only then will court revisit his bail application.
