21 Jul 2020

Two Zimbabweans, Bokani Khupe and Felix Mutarutse (both 30 years) have pleaded not guilty to two counts of robbery committed in Ramotswa in July last year.

According to particulars of the case; on count one, the accused were said to have on or around July 1, 2019 at Ga-Marete ward in Taung near Ramotswa, acting together and in consent stole a white Allex motor vehicle valued at P38 000 belonging to Ms Leungo Mogotetsi.

On the second count, they also robbed Mogotetsi of her belongings worth over P47 000, comprising clothes, shoes, television and laptop. 

The accused persons also robbed the victim FNB savings card and a wallet containing P1 000 cash. 

The accused persons reportedly threatened the complainant with a knife in order to obtain the said motor vehicle and other belongings. 

When arraigned before Senior Magistrate Queen Moanga of Extension II, the first accused person, Khupe told court that he was being incriminated in offences he knew nothing about more so that none of the stolen goods was found in his possession.

He pleaded that he be released since there was no any evidence linking him to the said offences. 

“These people are keeping me remanded because they have my passport and claim that they have information that links me to it, may you ask them to give me my passport and set me free,” he said.

Questioned as to why the suspects were only being arraigned now, a year later, the prosecutor, Mr Nametsegang Jimson, said there were a lot of factors that the investigating officers were still looking at and took time to compile all the evidence.

He said the accused persons had been in custody since July 2019 for the offenses they were tried on at Broadhurst Magistrate Court. 

The accused persons had three pending charges for offenses that took place in Tsolamosese in July 18, 2019. 

Magistrate Moanga ordered that the accused persons be further remanded in custody and the matter proceed on August 12 for conduction of case management. 

She further ordered that the investigating officer who had Khupe’s passport be present during case management so that everything be cleared and a way forward  be drafted. Ends