01 Dec 2020

A 43-year-old man of Colored ward in Francistown on Monday appeared before Maun Magistrate Keneilwe Kgoadi for impersonating a person employed in the public service.

The accused, Thatayaone Lushiam, together with three others, who were not present in court, are facing one count of impersonating a person employed in the public service.

The others are 42-year-old Goitseone Sekautu of Botshabelo South in Selebi Phikwe, 35-year-old Tefo Modisenyane of Phonchi ward in Gabane and 36-year-old Dimpho Gift Lebakeng of Manyanda ward in Tonota.

Particulars of the offence are that the accused persons, on or about November 26, 2019, at or near the then Maun Barclays Bank, acted together with the intention to defraud the complainant Mr Baeletsi Maseke his money by allegedly falsely representing themselves as police officers.

The accused allegedly produced a police identity card and instructed the complainant to withdraw money and give it them.

They allegedly approached the complainant by Tsodilo Junior School junction with claims that he was suspected to have stolen money.

The accused persons allegedly escorted the complainant to Barclays Bank where he was instructed to withdraw P20 000 for purposes of scanning the money to confirm their suspicion of stolen money.

It is alleged that the complainant withdrew the said amount of money, but subsequently developed doubts and called his son to inform him about the allegations, who then called the police, which led to the arrest of the accused person.

State Prosecutor, Mr Carlos Diundu said the other three accused persons were still at large, and requested that since their whereabouts were unknown, Thatayaone Lushiam be further remanded in custody.

The accused will appear for bail hearing on December 14.

Meanwhile, the quartet is also alleged to have on November 24, 2019, acting together with intention to defraud, obtained a total amount of P600 from one John Retshabile at Choppies Boseja, in Maun.

It is alleged that one of the accused persons approached the complainant claiming to have picked some lost money, which he suspected belonged to the complainant. 

It is alleged that when the complainant said the money did not belong to him, the accused person allegedly offered to share it with him nonetheless, and hopped in the complainant’s vehicle.

It is alleged that as the two were talking, the other accused persons approached the complainant and represented themselves as police officers, who claimed to be looking for stolen money.

They allegedly asked the complainant to give them his Automatic Teller Machine card and his personal identification number and withdrew P600 from his bank account. ENDS