Perth Voice Interactive

STAFF at the arts and recycling organisation Remida in West Perth arrived at work Tuesday to discover they’d been the victims of a khat burglar.

To be precise, someone nicked the 2m khat tree that had graced their courtyard.

The thief was tidy at least, going to careful lengths to re-fill the hole and even out the surrounding mulch.

Staffer Josie McGushin, pictured with all that is left of the tree, says the team is used to people dropping by to take unusual things (the organisation redistributes industry waste as art material) but this has definitely been the strangest.

Turning to the wonders of Google, the team learned the leaves of the plant are known to be mildly narcotic, and are traditionally chewed at social gatherings amongst some African communities.

Remida welcomes new members and suppliers, and would like it known there are no more khats on the premises.

by MATTHEW DWYER