24 Jul 2022

Three men, facing charges of theft of motor vehicle, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition and entering Botswana at ungazetted point have been remanded in custody.

Gaborone Extension II Magistrate Court’s Mr Lentlhabetse Willie remanded the trio of Mogomotsi Thupane, Sipho Mathangana and Jabu Shabangu in custody as the matter was still at an early stage.

He also ordered that the case mention on August 4 for status hearing.

Advancing reasons for the remand of accused persons, the prosecutor, Inspector Seabe Leeme of Botswana Police said the investigating team was yet to interview the other two suspects, who were injured during their arrest and were currently hospitalised.

Insp. Leeme also told the court that the nationality of the other two accused persons: Mathangana and Shabangu was yet to be established.

He said though having identified themselves as South African nationals, the duo’s nationality was yet to be verified, more so that they had entered the country at an ungazetted point.

On count one, the three accused persons are charged with theft of a motor vehicle. The accused persons and two others not before court are alleged to have on or about July 15 at or near Mmopane, Block 1, jointly and acting together with a common purpose and without claim of right, stole a grey Toyota Wish of registration number B504 BOT, valued at P60 000, being the property of Bakani Muzola.

On the second account, the trio are charged with unlawful possession of arms and ammunition. Particulars of the offence are that the three accused persons on or about July 15 near Riverwalk Mall in Gaborone, without any lawful excuse, were found in possession of one AK47 rifle and its magazine containing 30 live rounds ammunition.

The accused persons, being persons not exempted or licensed to possess firearms, were also found in possession of a TYPE 54 pistol and its magazine, containing seven life rounds of ammunition and one P38 Pistol and its magazine containing seven life rounds of ammunition.

Mathangana and Shabangu are facing another count of entering Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry, having on or about the month of July in Gaborone, without any lawful excuse entered Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry. Ends