Farmer hides small arsenal

2003-07-17 18:36

Johannesburg - A 37-year-old farmer appeared in the Ladybrand magistrate's court on Thursday after he was allegedly found in possession of four unlicensed fire-arms, Free State police said.

Constable Cristopher Mophiring said Russel John Prescott Pitchers was arrested on his farm, Balmarino, in the Ladybrand district on Tuesday.

Mophiring said police received information that Pitchers had unlicensed fire-arms. After obtaining a search warrant, police searched the house and came across the weapons in the doors of three safes.

Pitchers had hidden a Heckler and Koch 9x19mm sub-machine gun, an AK-47, a .32 Taurus revolver and an Uzi automatic gun in the doors of the safes. All the weapons, except the Uzi, had serial numbers. The estimated value of the weapons was R15 000.

Pitchers was arrested and brought before the court on Thursday on charges of the illegal possession of fire-arms. The case was postponed to July 24.

- SAPA