03 Mar 2015

Three men accused of robbing goods valued around P700 will each be serving a 10 year jail term for a count of robbery, the offence committed on the New Year’s Eve.

Modiri Morule, Olefile Mosigi and Arabang Seeletso are alleged to have robbed Thuto Gabanagae a T-Shirt and a cellphone valued P710 at knife point sometime in December 2012 in Molepolole.

Morule and Mosigi pleaded with the court in mitigation to exercise mercy when sentencing them stating that the period they stayed in prison had taught them a great lesson and will never in anyway commit offence.

Morule pleaded with the court to consider the fact that he was taking care of an ailing blind mother and promised not to commit any offence in future.

Accused two, currently serving 10 and 12 years rape convictions which were to run concurrently with existing sentences, also pleaded for leniency saying he was taking medication which he could not get properly from prisons. 

Magistrate Bhekimpilo Sibanda however dismissed their mitigating factors insisting that they do not deserve leniency as they have proved to be habitual offenders who have a tendency of going around hurting individuals for their personal gain. 

“I even fail to find extenuating circumstances that could prompt the court to consider imposing lesser sentence, I am therefore left with no choice but to impose a minimum sentence of 10 years,” Sibanda stated. 

He wondered why the second accused could be using his HIV status as a reason that could be considered for his pardon when he was serving rape convictions already. 

Seeletso had initially pleaded with the court to consider Vision 2016 pillar of being compassionate in deciding his fate. Mr Sibanda dismissed the plea as a nonstarter arguing that the accused failed to show the same when committing the said offence hurting innocent individuals.

The magistrate further went on to say that accused one and two were not in anyway committed towards improving on their appalling conduct.  ENDS