03 Jan 2024

Kutlwano police in Francistown are investigating a case of suspected food poisioning after a 44-year-old man of Shashemooke died following a drinking spree at a sheeben at Somerset West.

Kutlwano Police station commander, Superintendent Neo Serumola said in an interview that the deceased reportedly became ill after eating meat and drinking chibuku that was served at the sheeben and later died at Nyangabgwe hospital.

He said police were still awaiting post mortem report to determine whether it was a natural death or there was foul play.

Supt Serumola said the incident happened on December 31 and the deceased died at around 5pm. He said no one had been arrested in connection with the incident thus far.

Meanwhile, Police in Matsiloje have arrested eight men for smuggling goods into Botswana.

Acting station commander for Matsiloje Police Station, Assistant Superintendent Molebatsi Chingabe said of the eight, two were Zimbabweans while were six Batswana.

He said the men, who were arrested on December 3 during a police patrol, were found in possession of  106 boxes of Chelsea cigarettes which are banned in Botswana.

He said the eight men were handed to Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) for further action, adding that one Motswana was charged with aiding and abetting unlawful entry.

 ASP Chingabe said cases of goods smuggling were normally referred to BURS by the police to determine the appropriate action.

“BURS is empowered to impose appropriate fines looking at the magnitude of the case. It can also forfeit the goods that were used in the commissioning of the offence,” ASP Chingabe said.

He said the suspects were using three vehicles and were arrested on different occasions. He said the value of the smuggled goods stood at over P337 640. Ends