15 Mar 2020

Interpol has extradited, Ms Ndombi Selaolo also known as Ndombi Abouelela from South Africa.

Selaolo is facing a single count of motor vehicle theft and was recently repatriated from South Africa.

After a successful extradition process, she was escorted to the Village Magistrate Court, where she was arraigned before Acting Chief Magistrate, Ms Batho Kgerethwa.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions prosecutor, Mr Omphemetse Makale said the South African government, through the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services on December 15, 2019, signed an order for the fugitive to be deported to Botswana.

Mr Makale filed a copy of the executed extradition, a handing over document and notes from the South African Police before court, as prove of successful execution of the order.

He confirmed that the handing over of the fugitive was done at Pioneer Border Post near Lobatse.

On the basis of the filed documents, he said the fugitive be referred to as accused person and be read the charge sheet, while plea be reserved as the case was to be taken over by another prosecutor.

Mr Makale pleaded that the accused person be remanded in custody pending finalisation of the matter, as granting her bail would open room for her to escape with the likelihood of not standing trial.

Selaolo, who told the court that she would conduct her own defence, said there was no need for the plea to be reserved as in her view, prolonging the matter would be tantamount to misuse of public funds.

“I fully understand why I am here and there is no need to reserve plea. I am ready to take plea.

I also believe the prosecution has long concluded the investigations,” she said.

She said there was more to life after the case, stressing ‘we need to do away with this case as a matter of urgency, I know what has happened and there is no need to delay the matter’.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Fumani of the South African Police Service stationed in the North West Provincial Office, revealed in an interview with BOPA that Selaolo was being released from prison in South Africa where she had been serving  an eight year jail term for theft of motor vehicle, possession of stolen goods and escaping from lawful custody.

Lt. Col. Fumani confirmed that Selaolo was released after serving six years of the jail term.

The particulars of the offence are that, the accused person on or about October 02, 2012 at or near Block 9 in Gaborone stole a motor vehicle being a dark green Honda CRV bearing registration numbers B 721 ATS valued at P40 000, being the property of Octavious Gora, with the intent to permanently deprive the said individual of the vehicle.

Acting Chief Magistrate Kgerethwa said in the interest of justice, the accused person would be remanded in custody and appear for mention on March 17 for status hearing of the case. ENDs