07 Feb 2023

The first accused person in the 2022’s gruesome murder of Ms Barulaganye Aston, Moagi Oageng Letsholo, has requested court to facilitate him to do some banking.

Letsholo (48) made the request when appearing alongside his co-accused Leufty Kosie, Outlwile Aston and Kebaleboge Ntsebe before Magistrate Segomotso Phetogo of Broadhurst’s Magistrate Court on Monday.

However, the case’s substantive magistrate, Ms Jobbie Moilatshimo was not available.

Letsholo seized the opportunity to lobby the court to support his banking intentions.

“I want the court to order central prions officer-in-charge to facilitate me to take my money to the bank,” he said.

 Letsholo told court that he sold his vehicle last year and he had money that he wanted to take to the bank.

 However, he said the Gaborone Central Prisons officer-in-charge had been refusing to facilitate him.

As such, he said only a court order would compel the officer-in-charge to take him to the bank, adding that the prison official violated his rights by denying him a chance to take money to the bank.

“I do not know why he is refusing that I take my money to the bank,” he stated before a fully packed court.

However, Magistrate Phetogo said she was not in a position to deal with the matter, adding the substantive magistrate was more suitable to handle the issue.

Unconvinced by the magistrate’s objection to deal with the order, Letsholo told court that he was of the view that any magistrate could deal with the issue as it affected him alone and the rest of his co-accused had nothing to do with it.

“Even if I were to deal with the order, the officer-in-charge is not present to give his side of the story, I cannot give a one sided order,” Magistrate Phetogo stated.

Hence the matter was postponed to next mention on February 13, when the court would also deliver a ruling on bail application by Aston and Kosie, whose remand warrant was extended.

 Out of the four accused persons, only the traditional doctor, Ntsebe had been admitted to a conditional bail. Ends