Four Cattle Thieves Arrested in Kupang, Severely Beaten by Mob
Four suspected cattle thieves were apprehended by residents whilst gathered at a farm shelter in Naitae Village, West Fatuleu District, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in the early hours recently. Upon arrest, all four became targets of mob violence.
“We have secured four individuals. Three others remain under pursuit,” said West Fatuleu Police Sub-Station Commander Iptu Markus Tameno.
Markus identified the four arrested perpetrators as Musa Teti (16), Milton Takuab (15), Ibrahim Takuab (25), and Oktovianus Nenobahan (52). The three remaining suspects who fled are Urbanus Panael, Melkisedek Nofu, and Petrus Teti.
The theft began when Urbanus shot and killed a cow using a PCP air rifle on Sunday evening around 19:30 Wita. After shooting the animal, Urbanus contacted six others and invited them to butcher the cow together. The six perpetrators soon arrived at the location and proceeded to skin and butcher the animal. The stolen beef was then transported to a farm shelter belonging to Petrus Teti.
However, their plan unravelled after residents received information about the incident. Residents went to the farm shelter to apprehend the perpetrators.
When residents arrived at the location, three perpetrators—Urbanus Panael, Melkisedek Nofu, and Petrus Teti—managed to escape upon seeing the mob approach. The four remaining perpetrators were caught by residents and became targets of mob violence, sustaining bruises and contusions across their bodies. The incident was subsequently reported to Naitae Village Head Abraham Laome.
The perpetrators were brought to the Village Office for security purposes. Shortly thereafter, Naitae Village Police Community Officer Aipda Stevenson Radja and several personnel arrived to interrogate and secure the perpetrators from further mob violence.
“We then immediately transported them along with evidence to Fatuleu Police Sub-Station for further legal processing,” Markus stated.
According to initial examination, the perpetrators admitted they intended to divide the stolen beef equally for communal consumption.
Police are still searching for evidence including a knife used to skin the cow, which has not yet been recovered. Additionally, police are having difficulty locating the cow’s hide and head, as the perpetrators claimed to have discarded them into the Siumate River.
To date, police have not yet established the cow’s owner, as two residents claim to have lost cattle.
“The butchered beef weighs approximately 75 kilograms. We will forward this case to Kupang Police Headquarters for further legal proceedings,” Markus concluded.