09 Jan 2018

Four men; three Batswana and a Zimbabwean facing four counts of robbery and a single count of cruelty to animals were on January 8 denied bail as the prosecution reasoned that investigations were still going on.

The quartet which is made up of Samson Leatame, Nonofo Ntsatsi, Innocent Moagi and Oscar Ncube is said to have on January 5 at Steel Galaxy in Phakalane Industrial Site acting together and in concert stole from Steel Galaxy cash amounting to P20 000 and CCTV system.

According to the charge sheet read before the court, at or immediately before or immediately after the time of stealing the accused persons used actual violence to obtain or retain the said property.

On the second count still at Steel Galaxy, the four men acting together and in concert stole from Zhang Fan a white Oppo cell phone valued at P3 000, a gold Oppo cell phone valued at P3 000 and car keys.

The accused also used violence in the commission of the crime.

Regarding count three, the quartet still at the same location stole from Yan Ding Fu cash amounting to P12 000, 800 Chinese Yen and black Huawei cell phone valued at P3 000 using violence.

The court further heard that the accused stole from Wang Yu Cai cash amounting to P500, Chinese wrist watch valued at P1 500 and black Huawei cell phone valued at P2 500 using violence.     

With regard to count five, the four are accused of administering a poisonous substance or drug to two dogs thereby killing them at Steel Galaxy in Phakalane Industrial Steel.

Plea in all counts have been reserved while a Ndebele interpreter is to be sought as the fourth accused said he was not entirely conversant with both Setswana and English though he could apprehend the languages and thus acknowledge the particulars of the offenses as read to him.

Motivating her reasons as to why the accused should further be remanded, Inspector Oamogetswe Gaboutlwelwe of Broadhurst Police Station prosecutions unit, who was with Assistant Superintendent Tlotlang Balatlhwa said investigations were still fresh and as such the accused could temper with them should they be granted bail.

Inspector Gaboutlwelwe’s arguments were shared by magistrate Gaseitsiwe Tonoki who concurred with her that no person could have reasonably conducted and completed investigations within the two day period before registering the matter.

He therefore said the police should be given time to conduct their investigations hence remanded them until January 22, 2018 when they will come for another mention.

Earlier on the accused pleaded with the court to grant them bail with accused number three, Moagi, saying ever since his arrest, his vehicle has been lying idle as it was not secured while the fourth accused, Ncube, said he has a Motswana wife with a relatively young baby who does not know that he is in police custody. ENDS