25 Aug 2014

Proceedings in the Trojan P2 million robbery trial came to a halt recently after a cash note counter machine from Bank of Botswana jammed midway through accomplice witness’ testimony thus hampering progress in the marathon trial.

The machine had managed to count over P97 000 that was part of the money recovered from a hiding spot at one Tswelelo’s house two days after the robbery. Tswelelo is reported to be a friend to Onkabetse Malope who was involved in the robbery of P2 million that was being transported to Bank Gaborone in Ghanzi.

The cash counter only jammed and failed to count cash that was recovered from a pit-latrine at his grandmother’s place in Gabane prompting court to adjourn. Chief Magistrate Faith Dlamini N’gandu then ordered for provision of more than one machine when the case resumes October 10.

In another development, the chief prosecution counsel, Mrs Thato Dibeela promised to deal with discrepancies, found during the counting of the cash recovered from accomplice Malope. 

The discrepancy became evident after Malope was required to identify the envelope he allegedly signed to confirm the amount contained as the one he actually signed at the time.

The witness told the court that the amount recovered from him by the police was over P170 000 as opposed to the P98 710 written on the envelope. Once the envelope was opened in court, the amount inside failed to tally with the sum written on the envelope as it totalled P97 850 leaving a difference of P860.

Malope further highlighted that even the neighbour engaged by the police to witness the search and the counting of the recovered money could bear him testimony that it was around P170 000.

Mr Malope confessed that all the monies recovered from the three spots was part of the P2 million cash they robbed from by Trojan Security Company in August 2011 after he conspired with four others, two of which had since died.

Gerald Zikhale and Meshack Kangangwane are standing trial for the armed robbery allegedly committed with Brutas Mokgalo and Motlhatlhobi Bagopi, both deceased, plus two others who are still at large. Ends