16 Nov 2017

Bobonong principal magistrate, Ms Goratile Ramakoloi has granted the defence lawyer, Mr Moabi Madandume more time to prepare for an armed robbery case involving Bonno Mokgothi aged 35 of Nkoyaphiri in Mogoditshane.

Mr Madandume of Madandume Attorneys pleaded with the court that he was not ready to continue with trial in which Mokgothi is facing a single count of armed robbery contrary to Section 291 of the penal code.

The defence lawyer argued that his client instructed him to argue for his case when the prosecution had closed their case and as such having not participated from the beginning of the trial he was not privy to what transpired at that stage hence he needed time to study the case.

Mr Madandume stated that for him to represent the accused to the best of his ability and professionalism, he needed time to go through court records, which would enlighten him as to the direction of the matter had taken for a way forward.

Besides, he said the accused has witnesses which were all in custody and applied that the court allows him to have access to them because the accused had a right to legal representation at any level.

Mr Madandume added that if the case was to be continued he would not be able to represent the accused well and applied for another trial dates so that he peruse the court records. Meanwhile, the prosecution represented by inspector Bikkie Malaolo of Semolale police argued that the trial was scheduled for November 6, 7 and 9, the dates that were confirmed by the defence lawyer and was concerned that postponement was causing a delay to the completion of the case.

Insp. Malaolo said government resources were being used on the accused together with his witnesses to come to court from Gaborone and Francistown prisons where they are in custody, which requires a lot of security. The prosecution argued that the accused had been making a lot of noise accusing the system for delay but however left the case to the magistrate to decide.

However, magistrate Ramakoloi gave the defence lawyer the benefit of doubt and scheduled the matter to next year, January 25 and 26 for continuation of trial.

Magistrate described the process to bring the accused to court as laborious as at one point he was at large for a lengthy period, but shared the same sentiments that the defence lawyer be accorded some time to peruse the voluminous records of the case.

Mokgothi is standing trial while his accomplices Ookeditse Mazebedi, 35, of Khunkhwane ward in Mabolwe and Thato Mooketsi, 29, of Ginger location in Gaborone are serving 12 years imprisonment for the same offence passed on them by principal magistrate Goabaone Rammapudi.

Mokgothi has been on the run for almost 2 years prompting the prosecution to apply for separation of trial. BOPA