24 Aug 2018

Two men aged 34 and 39 suspected to be part of a syndicate stealing government vehicles appeared before Molepolole Magistrate Court on a single count of motor vehicle theft.

The duo, Otsogile Galebalwe and Odiegile Lesego of Habu and Kanye respectively were arraigned before Molepolole Senior Magistrate Ms Lindiwe Makgoro on August 20.

They are accused of stealing a Toyota Land Cruiser valued at P268 900 in Letlhakeng on Monday night.

They are suspected to be operating in a syndicate stealing government vehicles around Ngwaketse and Kweneng districts.

The facts of the matter are that the two accused persons and another person not before court, on or about August 20 at Water Utilities Corporation in Letlhakeng jointly working together in consent stole a Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to Water Utilities Corporation in Letlhakeng using violence on Tshotlego Agisanyang, by hitting him with an iron rod on the head.

The prosecutor Detective Superintendent Joshua Ntau of Serious Crime Squad pleaded with court to have the two remanded in custody, arguing that they were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday at Kanye, where one of the suspects was found in possession of the vehicle in question.

Supt Ntau further told the court that they had since started investigations, arguing that granting the duo bail would compromise investigations as they had launched a search against the missing suspect.

“Let us be given a chance to complete investigations as the police have not yet been able to secure some of the stolen items, including the cellular phone belonging to the night watchmen on duty during the fateful night”, pleaded Mr Ntau.

Galebalwe, according to Superintendent Ntau, was found in possession of the suspected stolen vehicle while his accomplice Lesego was arrested along the Kanye/Thamaga road driving a private car suspected to have been used for transporting the trio for committal of the offence in Letlhakeng.

Mr Ntau highlighted that they suspect the same people in all the suspected seven stolen vehicles since the same pattern was used in different areas targeting government vehicles, but had since been able to recover only three.

He therefore challenged government officials to intensify security for valuable goods against theft that regularly occurs in government premises.

The recently stolen vehicle in Letlhakeng was the third in less than eight months, where security officers sustained injuries.

Pleas for both accused persons were reserved to allow completion of police investigations.

Galebalwe and Lesego appeared in person, but promised to seek services of attorneys in the next appearance. ENDS