31 Oct 2016

Four men were arraigned before Lobatse Magistrate Court recently to answer for charges of stock theft.

Molapowabojang duo; a 31 year-old Oaitse Kgaodi and 56 year old Otsile Mapharing, and Moshupa duo; a 34 year-old Thabo Nkgwang and 34 year-old Stephen Sethibe are all facing a single count of stock theft.

According to the charge sheet the accused were allegedly found in possession of cow offal worth P100 believed to have been stolen last year in February at Ntomalome ward in Molapowabojang.

They all pleaded not guilty ,arguing the matter is too old and taking too long to finish, and they also argued that at one point the case was withdrawn.

The third and fourth accused persons, Nkgwang and Sethibe told the court that they did not understand why possession of cow offal would be related to a stock theft charge which carries a minimum sentence of 5 years.

The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) prosecutor, Ms Lapologang Mbwe admitted that the case was withdrawn because the prosecutor who was handling it by then was on sick leave, but reinstated it when he came back, which was lawful.

Ms Mbwe however noted that the charge is appropriate and indeed related to stock theft.

Lobatse magistrate, Ms Onkarabile Mokone advised the four men that there are proper channels to follow to address their grievances if they feel treated unjustly.

Ms Mbwe said the only thing that was left for the investigations to be concluded was the photo album, which she said had not been brought to them and a statement from the crime scene officer.

Three of the accused persons will be represented by their attorneys while Mapharing will be representing himself.
Ms Mokone set December 13 for mention. The accused are all on bail.ENDS