25 Nov 2019

A Molepolole man facing four counts of obtaining by false pretenses was arraigned before Molepolole’s Magistrate Ike Raphael recently.

Barakane Barakane, aged 35, is alleged to have fraudulently received P191 000 from four individuals in Molepolole as payments for pieces of land he sold to them at Lekgwapheng, Mmanoko and Phuthadikobo between March 2017 and September 2019.

Particulars of the offences are that Barakane fraudulently obtained P55 000 from Kentse Modiwa, P53 000 from Joel Sefako, P30 000 from Joel Letswalo while the other P53 000 payment was made by Oteng Kotu for plots Barakane sold to them.

The accused allegedly deceived the four complainants telling them that the residential plots belonged to him, when he actually knew he did not own any of the plots in question.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Uyapo Koketso, pleaded with the court to remand Barakane as investigations were still at preliminary stage.

Mr Koketso said they were still to record statements from some of the complainants, especially in count three and four.

However, Mr Raphael said the court would not entertain bail, arguing that prevalence of similar cases were rife in the district and needed to be curbed.

“I am taking the decision not to entertain any attempt by the accused to apply for bail in consideration of the seriousness of the offences that are mostly common in this area,” he said.

He therefore cautioned the public against falling victims of such traps, saying public education was constantly being made through various forums including the Botswana Police Service’s famous Itshireletse weekly programme to sensitise people.

In a related incident, Molepolole police Superintendent Motlhaba Ramaabywa warned the public against a group of individuals fraudulently obtaining money from unsuspecting people.

He explained that recently, five elderly people in Molepolole were robbed of cash amounting to P45 000. The perpetrators, he said, targeted individuals from ATMs and followed them to their car requesting for lift to be taken to where the other group waited.

The perpetrators masquerading as police officers on duty, demand to conduct a search and ask about the money cashed from the ATM including the ATM card and eventually got away with it.

The Station commander warned the public to be cautious about such dubious acts, saying people should understand that police interrogations were to be conducted at the office not publicly.