The Voice (Francistown)
Chenjelani Baraedi
23 October 2007
Francistown — A man, who raped an expectant donkey after harnessing it to a tree Friday last week, has disappeared without a trace, Matshelagabedi police said.
The unknown suspect allegedly jumped off the heavily pregnant donkey and disappeared into the darkness of the night when he saw the owner approaching.
Thomas Khunou, the owner of the donkey, told the police that he saw the suspect mounting off the donkey before running away into the bush. The 35-year-old man, who later launched a complaint with the police, revealed that he failed to clearly identify the alleged rapist because it was already dark. Khunou revealed that he got suspicious when he saw the stranger fleeing at a high speed when he saw him approaching. When he got close to the donkey, the man was shocked to find that the animal was tied to a tree next to an anthill.
Sub-Inspector Inalame Marumoame confirmed the incident and revealed that police were still hunting for the suspect. He said although a report was made by the owner who found his donkey harnessed to a tree, no one has been arrested. "The owner of the donkey reported the matter to us the following day but could not give enough evidence to help trace the culprit. He gave the police a wire suspected to have been used to tie the donkey's legs," said Marumoame, who revealed that the suspect also left a wheel barrow near the harnessed donkey.
Although the wheel barrow was later claimed by its owner, no one amongst the family members accepted responsibility for the alleged crime. The officer said: "Members of the family that claimed the wheel barrow denied any knowledge regarding the offence. When we told them about the crime, they explained that the wheel barrow was used by different people in the neighbourhood hence it was difficult to know how it ended up at the scene."
Marumoame said the complainant also destroyed evidence when he unleashed the donkey before reporting the matter to the police. He said had Khunou reported the matter on the same day, the police could have managed to arrest the suspect. The officer revealed that even the veterinary officer who was called to examine the donkey only came after two days. "The vet became available after two days which was too late to examine the donkey suspected to have been raped," he said. The officer said police questioned a local lunatic in relation to the offence, but later released him because there was insufficient evidence to link him to the crime.
Marumoame however called upon the public to help the police to arrest the suspect. He warned that having sex with a donkey was a serious offence that could land an offender in jail. "Having sex with an animal is an offence classified under unnatural offences. The crime can attract a prison term of around seven years."
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