Police are looking into the circumstances under which a game reserve manager was allowed to leave the Komgha police station with the carcasses of three animals that would have provided evidence crucial to the dog-eating case.
This was confirmed by Eastern Cape police who yesterday said Tyityaba reserve manager Karl Krull had not left the carcasses of a bushbuck and two dogs with police but had taken them and “disposed” of them.
The incident took place on Friday after the bushbuck was allegedly killed by two poachers.
Krull, who apprehended Lwando Folokwe and Akhona Dyantyi on the property, reportedly shot their two dogs dead and then forced them to eat one.
Police said Krull had arrived at the Komgha police station with the alleged poachers and bodies of the dead animals, but later left with the carcasses.
Police spokesman Captain Nkosikho Mzuku said: “ brought the dogs and the bushbuck to the police station when he reported the crime.”
Mzuku said Krull had then left with the carcasses saying one of his farm employees was injured and needed help.
“He left the police station with them and later disposed them,” said Mzuku. “This conduct will be investigated.”
He said police would “discipline” the officer who allowed Krull to leave with the carcasses. It is understood that senior police management are not pleased with the manner in which the case was handled by the Komgha police on Friday.
However, Mzuku said they would not hamper police investigations as crime scene experts had already visited the reserve to recover evidence left behind.
“The exhibits were recovered from the alleged crime scene and sent for analysis,” said Mzuku.
“The proof of these cases will not rest solely on these exhibits but also on eyewitness accounts and collaborating evidence.”
He said the police investigation was continuing.
Following their arrests on Friday, Folokwe and Dyantyi appeared in the Komgha Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Under questioning by Magistrate Michelle Pillay, Folokwe and Dyantyi claimed to the court that Krull, armed with a rifle, had shot their dogs then instructed them to eat one.
The men have since opened a case of attempted murder, pointing of a firearm and crimen injuria against Krull. They live in a village outside Komgha.
An appalled Pillay had listened as they recounted how Krull had tied their hands with wire and ordered them to load the dead bushbuck and their two dogs onto the back of his bakkie.
Folokwe told the court: “We got to the back of the bakkie and he ordered us to eat the dogs, saying if we don’t he will shoot us.”
The next court appearance is September13. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Komgha cops query removal of carcasses
This was confirmed by Eastern Cape police who yesterday said Tyityaba reserve manager Karl Krull had not left the carcasses of a bushbuck and two dogs with police but had taken them and “disposed” of them.
The incident took place on Friday after the bushbuck was allegedly killed by two poachers.
Krull, who apprehended Lwando Folokwe and Akhona Dyantyi on the property, reportedly shot their two dogs dead and then forced them to eat one.
Police said Krull had arrived at the Komgha police station with the alleged poachers and bodies of the dead animals, but later left with the carcasses.
Police spokesman Captain Nkosikho Mzuku said: “ brought the dogs and the bushbuck to the police station when he reported the crime.”
Mzuku said Krull had then left with the carcasses saying one of his farm employees was injured and needed help.
“He left the police station with them and later disposed them,” said Mzuku. “This conduct will be investigated.”
He said police would “discipline” the officer who allowed Krull to leave with the carcasses. It is understood that senior police management are not pleased with the manner in which the case was handled by the Komgha police on Friday.
However, Mzuku said they would not hamper police investigations as crime scene experts had already visited the reserve to recover evidence left behind.
“The exhibits were recovered from the alleged crime scene and sent for analysis,” said Mzuku.
“The proof of these cases will not rest solely on these exhibits but also on eyewitness accounts and collaborating evidence.”
He said the police investigation was continuing.
Following their arrests on Friday, Folokwe and Dyantyi appeared in the Komgha Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Under questioning by Magistrate Michelle Pillay, Folokwe and Dyantyi claimed to the court that Krull, armed with a rifle, had shot their dogs then instructed them to eat one.
The men have since opened a case of attempted murder, pointing of a firearm and crimen injuria against Krull. They live in a village outside Komgha.
An appalled Pillay had listened as they recounted how Krull had tied their hands with wire and ordered them to load the dead bushbuck and their two dogs onto the back of his bakkie.
Folokwe told the court: “We got to the back of the bakkie and he ordered us to eat the dogs, saying if we don’t he will shoot us.”
The next court appearance is September13. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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