Ondjiva – Angolan magistrates in the southern judicial region of the Attorney General's Office (PGR) proposed Tuesday amendments on the penalties for cattle theft, with the aim to discourage such practices.
The Article 393 of the Angolan Penal Code states that the penalties for cattle theft range from five to eight years in prison, depending on the valuation made at the time of the quantity and the calculation of the cost of the animal set at 300,000 kwanzas.
The law stipulates that if the stolen animals are worth no more than three million kwanzas, the crime is punishable for five years, however, while the case is being investigated, the accused should remain in pre-trial detention or pay a bond to the state to be released.
The draft was decided by the IV extended meeting of the PGR's southern judicial region held in Cunene province led by the Attorney General, Hélder Pitta Groz.
The deputy attorney general for the southern judicial region, Vanderley Mateus, said the PGR will elaborate a draft law to amend the penalties stipulated by the Penal Code for further submission to the National Assembly.
Vanderley Mateus said the members recognized that cattle theft in southern Angola is a matter of concern to farmers and traditional breeders, hence the need to revise the Penal Code to ensure greater protection.
The magistrates also recommended the promotion of legal education activities for cattle farmers and the general population, the creation of a rural police force and improving the control and census of existing cattle with the introduction of an animal coding system.
At least 158 thefts of cattle were registered by the national police in Cunene in 2023 culminating in the recovery of 550 animals, including 168 cattle, 365 goats, 13 pigs, four asses and two sheep. PEM/LHE/VIC/AMP
