12 Sep 2018

Prosecution in the Molepolole triple murder case has introduced an additional charge of robbery.

This emerged during a recent brief court appearance where an additional charge of robbery was added to the four who are each accused of three counts of murder. 

The quartet Tebogo Ramantosha, Mmoloki Tlhaelo, Poloko Segwagwa and Cornelious Saidoo of Molepolole, Mogodistshane and Gaborone Block Seven respectively, allegedly robbed Keabetswe Ramantosha a 32 inch LG Television set valued P3 000 and a Philibao Free To Air decoder valued P300 using personal violence.

Attorney Sesupo Masaka reiterated his call for the accused to be granted bail arguing that they were unfairly detained since  there were no reasons to suggest that their release will jeopardise prosecution case. His concern was over the fact that the quartet was constantly cooperative since the arrest.

He was of the view that the accused were candidates of bail abecause nothing was put forward to suggest that they will not honour bail conditions.

Counsel Masaka also pleaded with the court to make an order for the first accused Tebogo Ramantosha to be taken for medical assistance.

Meanwhile, defence counsel Olehile Mantswe, dismissed arguments raised by the prosecution to the effect that the prolonged detention of the accused person was based on the fact that prosecution had not yet been able to recover the missing decoder robbed from one of the deceased family members.

He challenged the introduction of the fourth count, arguing that prosecution was making a “serious blunder” to bring in the robbery charge against the accused when the complainant was deceased. “Who is going to be leading evidence when there would be no one to testify on how the items in question were robbed,” asked attorney Mantswe.

Meanwhile the State Prosecution from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) Pascal Mhandu pleaded for the extension of remand warrants for the accused person arguing that the period the quartet was detained was reasonable as it has only been three months.

The offence committed, he said was serious that it required complicated investigations and therefore it was wrong for the defence to say investigations were taking forever. “Let us allow investigations to be carried out properly and for prosecution to pursue any lead that may help strengthen the prosecution case,” pleaded Mhandu.

He therefore assured the court about the intention to expedite investigation processes and update court in the near future.

In her ruling, Molepolole Chief Magistrate Linah Oahile-Mokibe denied the quartet bail on the grounds that the prosecution should be allowed to  complete its  investigations..

He  echoed the prosecution’s plea by insisting that it would be unfair to say investigations were taking long in the incident that occurred late June where lives of three individuals were claimed  and  expect investigations to have borne fruits in a short period of time.

However, magistrate Oahile-Mokibe, called for prosecution to expedite investigations adding that although she concurred over the need for the case to be given attention it deserved but  they should ensure ending investigations to allow court decide on the matter.

The case follows the recent incident where Ntlolengwae couple, Patrick and Boingotlo Ramantosha aged 55 and 47 together with their 22-year- old son Keabetswe were murdered on the night on June 21 by the accused.

The four will appear again for mention September 20.. ENDS