05 Dec 2022

Broadhurst magistrate, Ms Onkarabile Mokone will tomorrow deliver ruling on a bail application by four men accused of kidnapping a Chinese national in Gaborone last month.

The quartet, Tebogo Moahi, Karabo Potsoeng, Otsile Mosala and Tlotlo William aged between 26 and 41, also charged with robbery and motor vehicle theft, made a bail application on Monday.

Reserving the ruling, Magistrate Mokone said there was a need for the court to consider bail conditions relating to theft of motor vehicle, particularly that the state had not opposed the idea of the suspects jointly paying for the required bail amount.

The magistrate’s decision to reserve the ruling came after the prosecutor, Mr Mmapatsi Tshimologo and defence lawyer, Mr Ofentse Khumomotse agreed that the suspects be admitted to conditional bail.

Among the conditions agreed by the two, the accused are to jointly pay bail amount for the theft of motor vehicle, report to the police once every two weeks, provide two sureties who would each bind themselves with P2500 as well as not interfere with state witnesses.

Regarding the robbery incidents, the four are alleged to have on or about 13 November at BTF Furnishers at Broadhurst industrial, in Gaborone jointly and in concert robbed, Qian Qian Song of P1 200 and an iPhone valued at P19 000, Thabiso Oagile’s black Huawei cellphone valued at P2400 and Felistus Keeletse of a navy blue Huawei phone valued at P1200.

They are said to have used personal violence in order to obtain and retain the stolen properties.

As for kidnapping, it was said that on or 13 November at BTF Furnishers at Broadhurst Industrial, the accused acting jointly and in concert unlawfully and without the consent of Qian Qian Song took her from BTF Furnishers Broadhurst Industrial Gaborone to Kanye where they secretly and wrongfully confined her for four days.

Further, the quartet on or about 10 September at the University of Botswana, acting jointly and in concert unlawfully stole a motor vehicle being a Toyota RunX registered B 414 BOU valued at P47 000 belonging to one , Lorato Basiamang. Ends.