NATIONAL NEWS - There is no arrangements between farmers and the police in Coligny for the farm owners to bring suspects to the police station, the North West High Court heard on Thursday.

Answering a question from advocate Rapula Molefe, Warrant Officer Moremi Modisane told the court there was never any arrangement made for farmers to bring people suspected of stealing from farms to the police station.

The revelation was made in a trial, in which the state alleges that Pieter Doorewaard, 26, and Phillip Schutte, 34, assaulted teenager Matlhomola Jonas Mosweu and threw him out of a moving van, on 20 April 2017 at Rietvlei farm, near Coligny

The pair had accused the 16-year-old boy, who later died of a neck injury, of stealing a sunflower head from their employer Pieter Karsten’s plantation.

The state further alleges the pair kidnapped a man who witnessed the incident and forcefully drove with him around the farm. They allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill him if he reported the incident. It is further alleged the accused pair also stole the man’s cellphone and pointed a firearm at him.

In his plea explanation, Doorewaard stated there was an arrangement with the police that farmers should bring suspects to them.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.