Times Of Swaziland: SNAKE USED TO ROB VICTIMS

SNAKE USED TO ROB VICTIMS
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BY JOSEPH ZULU  on 15/10/2020 00:29:00


PIGG’S PEAK – Three thugs, who posed as police officers, used a snake to
scare their victims before robbing them of their valuables.
The victims were robbed while in their homes.
This is said to have happened around Mgungundlovu near Buhleni in northern
Hhohho.
This modus operandi of the thugs attracted the wrath of the community, who
launched a manhunt and apprehended them, before beating them up. The suspects
were apprehended by residents and beaten to a pulp in mob justice.
However, one of the suspects managed to flee.
Referred
According to one of the residents, who was part of the mob, he referred to the
snake as an imboma – a boa constrictor.
It is alleged that the trio would drive around in a vehicle and pounce on
unsuspecting residents in the area. The suspects are alleged to have robbed
people around Mvuma, Mgungundlovu, Bulandzeni and Nkamanzi. These areas are all
under Ndzingeni Inkhundla.
According to some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the suspects
allegedly stole cash and dagga. “They were targeting people who they suspected
of having cash or dagga,” said a resident.
He said some of the residents wanted to report the incidents, but were afraid to
go to the police.
It is alleged the suspects also posed as police officers from Buhleni Police
Post. One of the suspects allegedly used the name of a police officer based at
the police post in inducing submission from his victims. The name of the officer
used is known, but will not be mentioned for ethical reasons.
Their modus operandi was to enter a homestead and introduce themselves as police
officers. Thereafter, they would request to search the houses in a similar way
police officers did when searching for dagga. “If you refuse, they would
return to their car and produce a snake to scare you,” said the resident.
He said the thugs often targeted women.
*Jomo, another resident, said when people began to complain about this growing
trend in the community, the residents started to mobilise themselves and kept
watch to ensure that they apprehended the thugs.
He said at around midnight on Tuesday, they received information about the
presence of the thugs at one of the homesteads in the area.
Jomo said the residents began to block various routes so that the thugs could
not flee. Jomo said the three men then headed towards Cetshwayo Primary School.
It was near this area that they were eventually apprehended, according to Jomo.
“We beat them mainly on the hands and legs,” said Jomo, who added that they
refrained from hitting them anywhere else  to avoid serious injury.
He said the men were beaten with various objects, including bushknives, and
knobkerries.
Stole
Jomo said after beating the men, they were asked to explain how they were able
to rob the residents. He said at one of the homesteads, the thugs allegedly
stole E1 000.
Jomo said they also allegedly robbed other residents of undisclosed sums of
money as well as dagga.
The men are also said to have chosen to use the surname of one police officer
even though they did not know him personally.
Jomo said the men were apprehended around 1am on Tuesday and tortured until
about 11am. The two apprehended suspects were then handed over to the police
later in the day.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile
Vilakati confirmed that two people were attacked but said the matter was still
under investigation.
She said there were no cases reported of the men robbing anyone. Vilakati said
so far, these were just allegations.
*Not real name.