22 May 2022

One of the accused persons in the SADC headquarters robbery, Otsile Semadi on Friday had his remand warrant extended after failing to raise his bail condition fee.

Semadi was the sole accused person who failed to secure bail as imposed by the Village Magistrate Court on 26 April.

He, alongside Maitapiso Kgakgamatso, Lesego Masilo, Mpho Rasetena, Innocent Bushiri Shaggy and Tongai Tsikirayi were admitted to a P5 000 bail and each was also to provide two sureties who would each bind themselves with P10 000.

They are accused of robbing the SADC offices goods valued at about P582 000 on or about January 29, 2022.

However, Semadi has found raising the P5 000 bail condition difficult.

Since they were granted bail, it was the second time that his remand warrant was extended, after he initially appeared alongside Shaggy, who had since been admitted to bail.

When extending the remand warrant, Chief Magistrate Mareledi Dipate said the accused would argue his plea for variation of bail conditions during the next court appearance.

He said this was necessitated by the absence of the substantive prosecutor, Mr Pascal Mhandu in court.

Initially, Semadi had pleaded with the court to vary his bail condition, saying he had failed in all efforts to raise the fee.

He had further promised to abide by whatever condition the court would impose.

Further, he said the substantive prosecutor had been absent for two consecutive court appearances, which thwarted his bail variation prayer.

However, the court overruled his request for bail variation without the input of the substantive state prosecutor.

Semadi, alongside other accused persons, will appear for mention on June 16.

Ends