22 Jun 2016

Lobatse chief magistrate, Mr Mareledi Dipate has denied two Zimbabwean  nationals bail after it was established that they resided in the country illegally.

Mr Dipate said the accused had been staying in the country illegally and if granted bail, they might get deported anytime and leave the matter in question incomplete.

The accused, Wilbert Mozamido aged 47 from Wedza Village and Nkululeko Sibanda 32 from Phumla Old both unemployed were in possession of a motor vehicle with false plate numbers. It is alleged that the accused persons and the other one still at large on June 1, 2016 at a shebeen in Mmathethe were found in possession of a motor vehicle bearing false plate numbers B 465 AKA.

Appearing for the state, Sub Inspector Shadreck Naganeng of Good Hope Police station said the mentioned vehicle did not have ample records from the department of transport systems.

He said the matter had been referred to Serious Crime Squad Unit and Interpol to establish the origin of the vehicle in question and how it came into Botswana.

He said the accused should be remanded in custody until the police investigations had completed.

In his defence, Mozamido asked the court to grant him bail as he did not have any knowledge of the car, adding that the accused who was still at large was the one who had knowledge of it. 

He said the missing person picked him from Gaborone after he requested him to attend a breakdown in Good Hope, but their journey was interrupted by the police.

Mozamido further said the missing person requested permission to go to the toilet during the questioning by the police and he returned and after some few minutes he requested for permission once again and that was the last time they saw him as he disappeared for good.

He also said he came to Botswana in 2005 and had valid passport and always renewed it and had applied for residence permit, but the Immigration office rejected his application.

Sibanda who said he had entered the country in 2006, also distanced himself from the car saying the missing person was the rightful person to answer for the matter. The case has been postponed to June 30. ENDS