09 Nov 2016

Chief Magistrate Linah Oahile-Mokibe of Molepolole will today (November 10), deliver sentence in the Sebele Northend Filling Station robbery case.

This came after Bampoloki Kgangpetsa, who is the only remaining accused, submitted his mitigation recently.

Kgangpetsa was convicted after the magistrate said the testimony given by the accomplice witness linked him to the crime.

In his close to 30 minutes mitigation, which was punctuated with sobs, the youthful Kgangpetsa told the court that a custodial sentence should not be imposed on him as prison conditions were unbearable for him.

He noted that ever since he was incarcerated to await sentencing, his life turned upside down.

Kgangpetsa further alleged that even his health had been affected terribly and therefore prayed the court to exercise mercy on him.

The lanky Kgangpetsa from Molepolole further told the court that it was unfortunate that he got prosecuted for a crime he never took part in nor was he ever near the crime scene.

In addition, he told the court that ever since the matter was brought before the court, he had been trying to re-arrange his life once more as the case had affected him in many ways.

Likewise, in his evidence in chief, Kgangpetsa told the court that he had nothing to do with the said robbery as he was not present when it occurred. He maintained that he has been falsely implicated by accomplice witness Agisanyang Makopo.

Kgangpetsa was jointly charged with Joseph Gaie who was early this year shot and killed in a foiled armed robbery in Gaborone West, and Golwelwang Efedile, who is believed to have skipped the country to neighbouring Zambia late last year.

The three men were facing a single charge of armed robbery for jointly robbing Northend Filling Station at gun point on February 5, 2012 where cash, cigarettes and airtime totaling P7 000 were stolen.

Meanwhile, before fleeing Gaborone, Efedile is suspected to have taken a hand in a spate of robberies which rocked Gaborone last year in November. However law enforcement agencies are hot on his trail. ENDS