Hunter's aircraft goes missing

MBABANE – A spy plane worth E20 000, belonging to Private Investigator Hunter Shongwe has gone missing.

Shongwe says the unmanned craft which had only three days disappeared while on a mission around Lobamba on Thursday afternoon.

The gadget operates as a spy camera to take pictures of people and places without raising suspicion.

By remote control, he flew the small aircraft in the direction of Somhlolo National Stadium where members of the League of Churches were arriving for the Easter services.

The small plane was on a mission to record everything that was happening at the stadium and surrounding areas during the night.

His mission of spying on the Christians failed when the gadget got lost.

The spy plane known as the Ardrone Spy Craft had only been in the country for a week and was being used for only the second time after its first test on Wednesday was successful.

The spy plane is controlled through a computer and uses specialised batteries for it to be able to fly.

Shongwe told the Times SUNDAY that he had bought the spy plane specifically for his duties as an investigator because there were cases that needed to be investigated without anyone knowing.

The spy plane was bought in America and I paid E20 000 for it," he said.

"It had only been in the country for less than a week. I sent it on a mission to monitor the arrival of some of our church members at the stadium and surrounding areas. I then recalled it back to my office where I was controlling it. However, as it was on its way, I lost control of it."

He said the last time he could detect the spy plane, it was at Somnjalose which is about 300 meters away from his office in Mvutjini.

"I suspect that it might have caught a certain virus and as a result, I could not control it," he said.

"I tried to track it down but failed as my computer could not spot its whereabouts. As I speak, I do not know where it eventually landed. I am still looking for it. I have tried to trace it through the computer but up to now, I have failed."

He said after his failure to trace it, he then asked the police to assist him. He suspects that someone might have seen it when it landed and took it.

"When I noticed that I had lost track of it, I informed the police and asked them to assist me. This is an important tool."

Shongwe said at the Ezulwini Police Post, he was asked to make a statement and officers promised that they would assist me in finding it.

"Just like as I suspected, the police officers said they also suspect that the plane might have been taken by someone who had seen it landing," he said.

"As we speak, it is not on because I am no longer able to detect its position. When its engine is on, you are able to trace it through the computer but I have tried everything and failed."

He said besides involving the police, he had also asked some of the people staying close to Lobamba to look for the gadget as there were other investigation missions that were in the pipeline and the spy plane was needed.

"I just hope I will find it because there are a number of missions where I was going to use this gadget."

Shongwe said he had already informed the company that supplied him with the gadget and hoped they would help him get another one.

"It was not my fault because I did exactly what I was supposed to do," he said.

"They said if I fail to locate it, I would have to inform them and we will take it from there."

Asked if it was legal for him to own the spy camera, Shongwe said he was an investigator and had to have the proper equipment.

Superintendent Wendy Hleta confirmed that Shongwe had reported that his spy plane had gone missing.

"We are assisting him but as we speak, we have not been able to locate it yet. We will continue to help him until we are able to trace its whereabouts."

Comments

I know that I should not be laughing.... but this is hard to believe Mr / Detective Shongwe. Hope you find it soon
Apr 9, 2012, 7:15 AM, Tammy Dlamini (tammydlamini@gmail.com) 

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