07 Mar 2018

Investigations into the murder of a Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) police officer are complete, and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is awaiting the docket for assessment for possible prosecution.

Briefing the court recently, a DPP officer, Ms Elang Keitumetse said police had already completed investigations into the matter and would soon forward the docket to the DPP. Ms Keitumetse requested the court to extend the bail for the accused.  

In the dock are Thuto Motseothata, 22, Buru Motseothata, 26, Lore Morentwa, 27, Tsaone Motswetla, 25, Karabo Kowa, 26 and Thato Lesela, 28, who are accused of the murder of a 43-year-old police Sergeant from SSKIA Police Station on August 11, 2017 at Domboshaba Bar in Block 8, Gaborone.   

Court papers indicate that on August 11, 2017 at Marapoathutlwa location at Domboshaba Bar, the accused acting together in concert and with a common purpose, armed with knifes and bricks, robbed Sergeant Basimane Binikwa of a cellular phone valued at P2 500.

It is alleged that immediately before or after the robbery the accused stabbed Sergeant Binikwa with a knife.

Granting them bail last September the then principal magistrate, now chief magistrate Goodwill Makofi, ordered the accused to pay a P5 000 cash bail each and produce two sureties who would bond themselves with the same amount, report every Friday at SSKIA Police or any police station in the village which they chose to reside at, not to go together by design or coincidence at any entertainment centre, not to commit any crime and to communicate their place of abode with the investigating officer.    

During their latest appearance, the accused pleaded with the court to vary their reporting intervals as their employers were worried that they reported every Friday something which they felt affected productivity at work.

The court, therefore, ordered them to report twice every month. They will appear for another mention on May 7. ENDS