21 Apr 2017

The accused person arrested in connection with the robbery of around P200 000 worth of gate takings derived from a premier league football match over the Easter holidays has been remanded in custody.

Molefe Mogatusi, a 33-year-old man who was arrested by the police in Oodi on Tuesday (April 18) reported for mention on Thursday morning (April 20), and was remanded in custody by Extension 2 magistrate Ntombizodwa Ncube.

He is accused of being among the assailants who attacked Township Rollers treasurer Minkie Molatlhegi and took off with the gate takings as well as unused match day tickets after a match between Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs on the night of Saturday, April 15.

Police investigating officer, Inspector Elias Segokgo told the court that after receiving a tip off from an informer, the police arrested Mogatusi, and found what they perceive to be an instrument used in the crime.

On the night in question Molatlhegi’s car windows were smashed and the assailants drove away with her car and another vehicle used by her attackers. Molatlhegi’s vehicle, a Mercedes Benz was found abandoned at Phase 4 in Gaborone, with the gate takings, tickets and used ticket stubs and Molatlhegi’s phone missing.

Inspector Segokgo said that the accused was found in possession of only P420 and urged the court to remand Mogatusi in custody for a 14 day period. This would allow the police to gather sufficient information pertaining to the case, since six other suspects are still at large and the stolen items are yet to be recovered.

Also, Inspector Segokgo said that relatives of the accused are among the witnesses in the case and the issuance of bail would lead to the tempering of potentially vital information pertaining to the case.

But the magistrate was not impressed with the overall presentation of the case for the prosecution. She said that the investigating officer had not provided adequate reasons to properly link the accused to the case.

“This is a major robbery involving a large sum, P200 000, and the investigating team should be presenting us with concrete evidence that links the accused to the crime. There should be sufficient grounds to take away the accused’s liberty,” Ncube said.

She added that while she would remand the accused in jail for two weeks in order to allow the police to proceed with their investigations, she hoped that the prosecution would come up with a more solid case, failing which she may be forced to free Mogatusi.

The accused claimed that he only pointed out the P420 and the instrument allegedly used in the crime under duress, as he claimed to have been tortured by the police.

Ms Ncube set the next trial date for May 4. BOPA