02 Mar 2022

A 28-year-old South African man, Thapelo Skhosana, who is facing a charge of illegal trafficking of drugs, was denied bail by Maun Chief Magistrate, Mr Thebeetsile Mulalu on March 1.

The accused is facing a single count of trafficking in narcotic drugs. 

Magistrate Mulalu said that although the accused claimed that Botswana was his second home, he did not have any assets that connected him to the country.

“The accused is facing a serious offence and there is a high likelihood of being sentenced to prison or a very high fine, which could motivate him to abscond even if he can surrender his passport,” he said.

The magistrate further said the weight and measures certificate for the drugs in question have been released and investigations were completed, which he said would speed up the case, so the accused should not fear that the case would drag on.

The defence attorney, Mr Lesego Phoi had in the previous court mention argued that his client deserved bail since he considered Botswana his second home. 

He said the nature of the accused’s job, of transporting goods, dictated that he spent time in Botswana and had a place to stay in Phakalane, if granted bail.

Particulars of the offence are that the accused person was on January 28, 2022 found to be unlawfully trafficking greenish substances suspected to be dagga, in a white Mercedes Benz truck at Makalamabedi Veterinary Gate near Maun.

The state, represented by Inspector Paul Basupi of Botswana Police, has since established that the dagga in the accused’s possession weighed about 29.4 kilogrammes and that the offence attracted a minimum fine of P50 000 or 25 years imprisonment or both.

The accused person would appear for mention for case management on March 14. ends