05 Aug 2015

A South African national, Lizo Seyisi this week pleaded for his case before the Masunga Magistrate Court be withdrawn with leave for the state to reinstate the case pending completion of investigations by the police.

Appearing briefly before magistrate Goratile Moremi-Ramakoloi, Seyisi, who is out on bail, said having to constantly travel from South Africa to Botswana for his court appearances was costly hence his application. Earlier, the prosecutor in the matter, Assistant Superintendent Dick Busang of Tshesebe Police Station had told the court that investigations were still ongoing.

He also stated that the police had liaised with their South African counterparts, whose trip to Botswana in June had not borne fruit as they had failed to locate the chassis number of the vehicle at the centre of the case.

Assistant Superintendent Busang said the South African police officers promised to return at a later date with equipment that could assist them in locating the chassis number, but that the promise was yet to be fulfilled.

Applying for another mention date, Assistant Superintendent Busang requested that the matter be called again after two months, saying that it would give them ample time to push their South African counterparts to expedite the process of assisting them with the investigations.

Ms Moremi-Ramakoloi set October 5 as the date for the next mention. The accused is alleged to have had in his possession a BMW knowing or having reason to believe that the said motor vehicle had been stolen. He is thus facing a single count of being found in possession of goods stolen outside Botswana. Ends