By Wezi Tjaronda WINDHOEK Khorixas police are stuck with the thousands of stolen livestock after the suspected rustlers refused to hand over the identified animals to the owners. Following the discovery of more than 7ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 stolen cattle, goats and sheep in bush kraals last week, the police at Khorixas have had to guard the animals. After the identification process started on Wednesday, many sighed with relief that the animals would finally return to their owners. Little did they know that those who were arrested in connection with the stolen livestock would refuse to consent to the owners taking back their livestock. Khorixas Police Station Commander, Inspector Robert Sanjahi, told New Era yesterday that the suspects, led by the main suspect in the case, Cleophas Tjiunduwa, refused to sign the Pol 41s (forms which the suspect signs to release stolen goods to the owners). “Now the animals will be guarded until the court case is finalized, after which the court will decide what to do with the animals,” said Sanjahi. Farmers who went to identify their animals so they could get them back yesterday, returned disappointed because, according to Ditsa-i-Mu, some of them have been missing their livestock for a number of years. “They are very disappointed as some went to identify their missing animals but they could not bring them back home,” said Ditsa-i-Mu Secretary General, Matheas Tsaeb, yesterday. He said the organization had had a meeting with the Police yesterday, during which they were informed that the main suspect had refused to release the livestock. This setback, however, will not stop the identification process that, as of yesterday, was done at Gobs Post which had one kraal. The other animals were held at Middelplaas which had four kraals, and Oshakate plaas where farmers are identifying their animals today. Sanjahi said he was now waiting for instructions from the Inspector-General of Police, which will be communicated through the Regional Commander of the Kunene region. The suspects, who were denied bail, are Bbeto Tjiunduwa (36), Mathew Tjiunduwa (25), Nico Kahuku (31), Elias Munenuela (47), Kahupilo Kavi (53), Leonard Wararavi (29), Moses Kawoko (28), Rujindo Clahimua (68) and Cleophas Tjiunduwa (36). Ditsa-I-Mu, a community stock theft prevention organization, said this week that although stock theft was rampant in the area, it was overwhelmed by the number of livestock involved this time. “We cannot understand why people do not inform us before the point where we have to deal with more than 7ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 cattle,” wondered Tsaeb, adding that while many people had gone to identify their lost animals, others did not because of the long distances involved especially to faraway Middelplaas on Wednesday. “Some could not go because it is so far, and they did not have transport,” Tsaeb said.