13 Aug 2015

Francistown Magistrate, Mr Dumisani Basupi has convicted a 34-year-old former police officer, Atlholang Mujangi on a charge of malicious damage to property.

Convicting Mujangi on Thursday, August 13 Mr Basupi said the prosecution had proved its case in a satisfactory manner, while on the other hand the accused’s sworn evidence proved that it was only an afterthought planned to mislead the court.

Mr Basupi said the prosecution sufficiently proved that although there was no eye witness, the property, which is a Toyota Corolla, was damaged and it was indeed the accused, who willfully damaged it.

He said it was the evidence by prosecution witnesses, Ms Segolame Tshekiso and Tumisang Tshekiso that the accused was concerned about the vehicle and that he even checked the vehicle’s ownership using the Department of Road Transport and Safety system.

He said the evidence further proved that the accused was concerned about the vehicle because he felt that the owner contributed to her breakup with Segolame.

Mr Basupi said the prosecution further proved that the accused was even willing to confront the wife of the owner of the vehicle about her husband’s adulterous relationship as a way of winning back Segolame, but he discovered that the vehicle was sold but the ownership was not changed that is when he resorted to damaging it.

He said on the other hand, the accused and his nephew’s evidence indicated that it was only planned. 

Magistrate Basupi said when cross examined, Unopa Mujangi, the nephew to the accused did not show any willingness to help with the matter before the court but only to protect his uncle.

Mr Basupi said Unopa told the court that he loved his uncle and he will do everything possible to protect him and this he said, indicated that the nephew was prepared to protect his uncle even from being associated with the offence.

He said according to the evidence before court, the only reason why the accused damaged the vehicle was because his efforts of winning his ex-lover did not bear any fruit, so he decided to chastise the owner of the vehicle as he was the reason why he could not reunite with Segolame.

Ms Tawanda Kapongo, who represented the state pleaded with the court to set another mention date so that she could check for any previous convictions to enable her apply for compensation of the damaged property.

Next mention was set for August 27, while Mujangi, who was previously granted bail was remanded in custody.

Meanwhile Mujangi, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was faced with one count of malicious damage to property and the subject matter of the case was a Toyota Corolla belonging to one, Lance Corporal Letsweletse Matome.

Previously, the investigating officer, Detective Sub-Inspector Moswaane Koboyankwe told the court that the total value of the burned parts of the vehicle was around P4 600. ENDS