10 May 2020

A man accused of attacking and wounding a social worker in Lesoma is to appear before Kasane Magistrate Court tomorrow Monday, May 11 to apply for bail.

Mukasa Ntengu who was not asked to plead during his first mention on April 30 and was denied bail by Magistrate Thato Ramaja, is facing a single count of unlawful wounding.

His initial bail application was opposed by the state because the matter was still fresh and police investigations were still on-going.

The bail request was also refused because the prosecution was still waiting for the doctor’s medical report on the extent of injuries the victim suffered.

According to the Charge Sheet, Ntengu on April 29 in Lesoma without any lawful excuse wounded Mr Atlasame Ledimo on the left arm with a sharp object which sustained him a deep cut.

The victim had gone to Ntengu’s homestead to assess whether the family qualified for the COVID-19 Relief food basket package.

Mr Ledimo was airlifted to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital (NRH) in Francistown on the same day where he is reportedly still under critical condition.

The prosecutor, Police Sub-Inspector Benjamin Mmualefhe of Kazungula police station had told the court that investigations into the matter were still fresh.

Investigating Officer, Sergeant Mafika Mabena of Lesoma Police Post also speaking against granting the accused bail, said the accused had refused to hand over the weapon he used in the commissioning of the offence but instead handed a rod alleging that he had thrown the weapon into a pit latrine.

In his bail application, Ntengu told the court that he had minor children to look after as a breadwinner and also said he was provoked by the victim’s behaviour, claiming that the victim on April 22 kissed his girlfriend when he had come to assess them, something that did not go well with him.

He had said he was suspicious that the victim was still following on his girlfriend because on that fateful day, he came at night using a private vehicle, and wondered why the assessment was being done at night. ENDS