Man assaulted over Easter for suspected theft

A man suspected of theft was allegedly assaulted at the farm Komsberg in the Ariamsvlei area of the //Kharas region on Sunday.

The victim has been identified as Wesley Basson (30).

//Kharas regional crime investigations coordinator Nicodemus Mbango says the police found Basson tied with a rope to a pole at the suspect’s house, where he was reportedly assaulted.

Mbango says it is alleged that the suspect tied Basson up with wires and assaulted him, but he managed to free himself and run. However, he was reportedly pursued and caught again by the suspect, tied up with ropes, assaulted and dragged from one residential area to another in the surrounding area.

“When the suspect was questioned about what happened, he claimed that the victim had broken into his shop and stole money. However, he never reported the matter. He said that even if he reported the matter, he knew that he would never get his money back. That’s why he decided to take the law into his own hands,” says Mbango.

Mbango adds that Basson was assaulted with different weapons such as a tombfa, knop kierie and a panga, which resulted in him sustaining severe injuries all over his body.

He says Basson was transferred from the Ariamsvlei clinic to the Karasburg State Hospital in a serious, but stable condition.

The police have arrested a suspect, who is expected to appear in the Karasburg Magistrate’s Court today, while additional suspects are to be arrested in the case, says Mbango.

Meanwhile, one man identified as Mutaleni Werner, age unknown, died in a fire at Rosh Pinah yesterday, says Mbango.

It is alleged that the shack Werner was in, burned to ashes. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage.

“The body was removed and is being kept in the police mortuary at Rosh Pinah and will be ferried to Keetmanshoop for the autopsy to be conducted,” says Mbango.

Werner’s next of kin have been informed, while police investigations continue.