Police arrest three suspects for allegedly stealing cow

Police in Lusaka have arrested three male suspects for allegedly stealing an oxen, valued at K16,000.

Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, said the incident occurred on November 5, 2023 at around 01:00 hours in Mulela Village in Mungule.

Hamoonga said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He said police officers conducting patrols in the area whilst on duty, received information at around 02:00 hours that some criminals were spotted stealing cattle and immediately despatched a patrol team.

“Upon reaching at the scene of crime, three men were found with carcass of a cow in a dark blue Spacio Registration number ABT 9832,” Hamoonga said.

He said the suspects had been identified as John Lyempe, aged 51, of Kanyama compound in Lusaka, Sydney Mwachinpavu, aged 44, and Raphael Mulekwa Kachabe, aged 40, both of Mulela Village in Mungule.

Hamoonga said upon being interviewed, the trio claimed that they had found the animal moving in the bush and decided to slaughter it and put it in the vehicle.

“The owner of the Oxen identified it through the brand mark on the skin which was removed by the suspects had cut off and buried,” he said.

Hamoonga said the owner was also able to positively identify his animal by its horns as well as the colour of the animal skin.

He added that all the suspects are detained in Police Custody waiting to appear in Court soon.

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