14 Jan 2016

Francistown senior magistrate, Mr Dumisani Basupi will give a ruling on January 21 on whether a 33-year-old teacher convicted of setting alight the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) barracks and destroying property valued over P4 million should compensate the victims.

According to the facts of the matter, Bonno Ikanyeng on about January 5, 2013 willfully and unlawfully set fire on the BDF Area S Barracks, thereby destroying 25 rooms, a kitchen, a common room and property of 27 soldiers who were residents of the barracks.

In November last, Basupi convicted Ikanyeng of arson after the prosecution managed to prove to the court that the case was beyond reasonable doubt.

The setting of the sentencing date follows an application by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) that Ikanyeng should compensate the concerned parties.

In mitigation, the defence counsel, Mr Kabelo Gaonyadiwe said he does not object to the defence’s application and pleaded that in sentencing, the court should consider that the accused was a first offender, a mother of three children who looked up to her for support as the husband was unemployed.

Mr Gaonyadiwe also told the court that the accused was looking after her ailing mother and two other siblings, of which one has a mental illness. Ends