02 Mar 2016

Two suspects who remain in custody after four were released on bail by the High court two weeks back on two separate occasions over the suspected ritual murder of the former Molepolole Magistrate Court Intern Nthabiseng Motlogelwa have applied for bail yesterday before Gaborone regional magistrate Mr Chris Gabanagae.

When advancing his reasons for bail application, the first accused Keeagile Sekwati told the court that he has not been able to engage an attorney and therefore wants to, saying if given bail he will abide by the conditions that the court may attach. 

When quizzed as to why he was denied bail in the first instance by the previous magistrate Sekwati said he was denied bail for the fact that the community was still angry out there. The regional magistrate further advised him to apply for bail at the High Court as he has been advised in the previous appearance.

One other suspect, accused six Gontse Phoi also requested the court to grant him bail despite the absence of his attorney Mr Kgosietsile Ngakaagae considering his deteriorating health, as he said from the onset when the matter started he indicated that he was taking his medication at Zeerust in South Africa saying it is for this reason that his attorney applied for bail on his behalf. 

When asked why he was denied bail in the first instance Phoi said he did not remember very well what the court said in denying him bail as he has been confused ever since the registration of the matter.

The court noted that accused six’s attorney wanted to make an application before court and so he was not before court together with the other defense attorneys’ being Letlhogonolo Makgane representing Mojalemotho Mokate, Legolo Relaeng for Moetapele Kgololo and Mc Bain Kaang for Mosimanegape Moatshe and Sebeninyana Puso, for the rest of the other accused persons. 

The accused explained the absence of their attorneys to the fact that there was confusion as to where the matter was to mention. 

All the accused will appear on the 8^th of this month at Molepolole Magistrate court.

When briefing the court on the developments of the case, the state prosecutor Inspector Uyapo Koketso said investigations in the matter were still ongoing as he said some exhibits have been taken to the forensic lab for some tests, additionally saying they are therefore awaiting the results.

He noted that in the last mention they indicated that accused two and three being Mojalemotho Mokate and Moetapele Kgololo were granted bail by the High Court in Lobatse, saying they have learnt that accused four and five being Mosimanegape Moatshe and Sebeninyana Puso have also been granted bail by the same court.

Inspetor Koketso further applied that the two being Sekwati and Phoi be further remanded until the 8^th of March.

Meanwhile, information brought before court presented in a charge sheet by the state prosecutor reveals that the six accused persons between the 24^th and 30^th of October 2015, exact date not known to the prosecution at or near Mpadithata Lands near Mogonono settlement in the Kweneng district acting jointly in consent murdered Motlogelwa.

Motlogelwa was a former Molepolole Magistrate Court Intern and just last month Molepolole Magistrate Lindiwe Makgoro who has been presiding over the matter recused herself from the matter as the defense attorneys made the application for her recusal citing the possibilities of bias in dealing with the matter. Ends