05 Sep 2023

A man who has been charged for publishing an alarming report was a noticeable absentee when his case mentioned before Village Magistrate Court on today(September 5).

Tshepo  Sethibe, who is the director of Moeladilotlhoko News Boiler, faces a single count of publishing alarming publications.

Even his attorney Dr Obonye Jonas told Chief Magistrate, Mr Daniel Nkau that he was not aware of the whereabouts of his client.

“I am not aware of his whereabouts but we will make sure he will be in court during the court appearance,” Dr Jonas said. Dr Jonas asked the court to give the case more time to allow the Maun High Court time to deliberate on a matter related to the charge. At the Maun High Court, Sethibe has lodged an application challenging the constitutionality of the charge he faces at the magistrate’s court.

He wants the High Court to order that Section 59 (1) of the Penal Code, cap 08:01 be declared to be in violation of Section 12(1) of the Constitution of Botswana and that it be struck down.

 Dr Jonas told the magistrate’s court that the Maun High Court had not yet finalised the matter, and pleaded with the magistrate to continue to wait on the Maun High Court to finalise the matter, before his client could be called to answer for the charges.  Sethibe, who had been granted conditional bail by the magistrate court, has been charged for allegedly publishing alarming information on his Facebook account last year, regarding a missing person, Tlotso Karema of Lobatse, alleging that there was deceit in the manner the police handled the matter.

“Ka jaana ba sepodise ba supa fa masalela a ngwana a bonweng mo bekeng e ka di 06 July Wedmesday 22, a ya go kopangwa le marapo a bonweng ka di 14 April 2022 morago ga two weeks mme a tshubiwe (cremation), ga gona phitlho ya ga Tlotso ka gore go dirwa boferefere, ” he is said to have stated.

The magistrate’s court has set the next mention date for 19 February 2024. ENDS