14 Nov 2013

 A 67-year-old farmer, Hendrick Vissagie of Welverdien farm near Rappelspan has been convicted and fined for a single count of unlawful possession of a fire arm, a .22 rifle.
Vissagie appeared before Tsabong Senior Magistrate Daniel Nkau.

According to the facts of the case, a team of police officers led by Sergeant Michael who was stationed at Bokspits police visited Vissagie’s farm after a tip off that he was in possession of a firearm suspected to be unregistered. The police team was said to have found Vissagie at his homestead and upon enquiring from him about fire arms, he denied owning any fire arm.

The team conducted a search in Vissagie’s house and recovered a .22 rifle in his bedroom. Upon being called to account for the rifle, Vissagie admitted that it was his rifle and that he found and picked it from the bush.

He failed to produce a fire arm license when he was required to do so. Investigations were extended to the Police Arm Registry in Gaborone where it was established that the rifle was not registered in Botswana.

It was further referred to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic examination and an affidavit was issued to that effect. The rifle and affidavit were brought before the court as evidence. Vissagie, who is said to be a first offender pleaded guilty and said in mitigation that he is a breadwinner in his family and is also taking care of his sick wife.

Senior Magistrate Nkau said elderly people of Vissagie’s age are supposed to be exemplary to the public, more especially to the young generation and further pointed out that it is imperative that if elders are engaged in lawlessness, certainly those who look up to them and the youth will copy and engage in illicit acts that the elders are involved in.

He further explained that possessing fire arms unlawfully was dangerous and that guns can land in the wrong hands and may end up being used in serious crimes such as murder and armed robbery. Senior Magistrate Nkau fined Vissagie P250.00 which is to be paid on the same day of judgement, failure of which he will be committed to prison for a period of a month. Ends