02 Apr 2020

Ndombi Selaolo, who is facing a motor vehicle theft charge, on Tuesday asked the prosecution to update the Village Magistrate Court on the outcome of her reconciliation meeting with the complainant.

Selaolo, also known as Ndombi Abouelela, told acting Chief Magistrate Batho Kgerethwa, that on March 24, she was taken from her prison cell by the investigating officer to rmeet the complainant, Octavious Gora, for reconcliation purposes.

She told the court that after the meeting, the complainant compiled a withdrawal statement.

Therefore, she said she was lost for words as to why the prosecutor did not update the court on the outcome of the meeting.

 “I was only served with the witness statements and summary of the case yesterday and there was no mention of the outcome of the reconciliation meeting. It appears the prosecutor has not met with the investigating officer,” she said.

The accused person was as a result, suspicious that the prosecution had hidden motive that could have negative influence on the outcome of the case.

The accused also told the court of her intent to engage a lawyer now that the case seemed to have dragged for too long.

 In the previous mention, Selaolo had told the court that she would conduct her own defence, but the recent development had forced her to overturn her previous decision.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor, Mr Omphemetse Makale told the court that the case was called for initial case management conference and that he had served the accused person with witnesses’ statements and summary of the case.

He told the court also that the prosecution would call four witnesses.

His response to the accused person’s enquiry about the outcome of the reconciliation meeting, Mr Makale relayed to the court that the complainant in the matter was the state.

 “My worship, the accused person’s ex-boyfriend (Octavious Gora) is nothing but a mere witness and he does not have a say on what will happen with the case. As the prosecution, we have not received the purported withdrawal statement from the complainant,” he said.

Mr Makale said the fact of the matter was that a criminal act had been committed and the law had been contravened.

“As the complainant, the prosecution will bring the matter of withdrawal to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” said Mr Makale.

Contrary to utterances by the accused, Mr Makale told the court that the prosecution did not have any hidden motives attached to the case but was only following the dictates of the law.

Meanwhile, acting Chief Magistrate Kgerethwa directed that another mention date be set for initial case management conference, where the prosecution would update the court and the accused person on the outcome of the reconciliation meeting.

The accused person was also advised of her right to engage an attorney.

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. The case will mention on May 11. ends