Police should consult internationally to catch Scarface'

I read with interest a recent article by one of your brilliant reporters, Lucky Tsabedze, entitled "We have arrested ‘Scarface’".

It is interesting to note the attention that ‘Scarface’ attracts, especially among security forces who, we must admit, have failed to catch him　– at least for now. I once heard how about 600 men and women from the security forces combed the mountains in the Lubombo region to search for ‘Scarface’, but went home empty-handed.

We have more than enough security force personnel to catch ‘Scarface’, but they have failed to do so and it seems their only plan is to rely on informants. The figures may not be accurate, but in Swaziland, we must have tens of thousands of security force personnel if we include police, warders, soldiers, game rangers, and even community police.

It seems like, for now, the police are　not giving the ‘Scarface’ matter much urgency　and all they do is ‘jump’ and run to the mountains when called that a man with a scar has been spotted.

Let’s face it, ‘Scarface’ cannot be so sophisticated that such a huge task force can fail to apprehend him. I think the security forces should provide us with a dedicated team of 1 000 who　will hunt this criminal until he is arrested.

It should be made clear that ‘Scarface’ is committing a crime the Police Commissioner once described as ‘horrendous because it targets the vulnerable of society’.

Remember, a society is judged by how it takes care of the most vulnerable and the whole world is watching Swaziland on this matter.

It is clear that whatever plan the police are using has failed because it has not produced the results they are expecting so they need to pull up their socks or call for help.

Of course, we appreciate all the other efforts in as far as fighting crime is concerned and I must say that compared to other countries I have been to, whether in Africa or overseas, Swaziland remains one of　the safest.

So how, then, can the police catch this criminal?

Why is the RSP not making use of the latest technology such as GPRS’ which are available in this country? We have read reports of how victims claim that ‘Scarface’ has been using a cellphone, which means he has a ‘digital signature’.

It is possible for the cellphone company to provide GPRS readings or records of cellphones in a particular given area.

Why can’t the police collaborate with our GPRS providers and trace his digital signature? Obviously, if ‘Scarface’ is using a phone, it leaves some form of route map of where he walked.

Police in South Africa used this technique when apprehending Donovan Moodly, who was sure he had committed the perfect crime when he murdered Leigh Mathews in 2004, a fellow student at Monash University in Midrand.

Since our police are part of Interpol (the International Police), why not ask for help? That’s the whole point of belonging to an international community.

Another way the police can track down ‘Scarface’ is to use sniffer dogs, although we have heard that they have already used this system.

I once heard that the dogs failed to follow the trail and led police to the wrong places, but then why don’t we hire more trained dogs from our neighbours?

If rape is such a horrendous crime, then I am sure the Police Commissioner would do anything within his power to ask for such assistance, even if it means paying for it.

The police should also produce a proper profile of who ‘Scarface’ really is, which includes exact height and even age. If he is an ex-convict, these records - including medical records - should be available so that police could have an idea of who they are dealing with.

Put it this way: ‘Scarface’ smokes dagga and his victims have confirmed this.

If he really smokes dagga the way his victims describe him to, it is not likely that he can run for a very long distance – this is just common sense.

Anyone who smokes dagga that long is bound to have some form of chest problem when running and won’t run too far.

In other words, ‘Scarface’ does not run as fast as we think he does and the records at the Matsapha Prison show he is also short-sighted since he is said to have worn spectacles at some time.

I hope, with this information, the Royal Swaziland Police Service will be able to catch ‘Scarface’.

Msizi Tembe

Comments

Well done Msizi Tembe, if Scarface exists, you caught him.
Jun 12, 2012, 8:05 AM, Shaun Moodley (shaunm@fashion.co.sz)

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: