04 Feb 2014

The bail hearing for three suspects recently arrested for armed robbery will take place on February 5, after their bail application failed to go through on Monday.

The three, Modulasetilo Seretse, Moses Katembele and Mhina Mhina who remained in custody ever since they were arrested on different dates two weeks ago.  The fourth suspect in the matter has not yet been arrested.

According to the prosecution, the four robbed one Pogiso Matlhare in Phase IV location in Gaborone the sum of P450 000, R42 000, jewelry worth P85 000 and three gold coins, whose value was not yet known to the prosecution.

During their appearance on February 3, the prosecutor from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mrs Khumoetsile Tirelo told the court that although the state was not opposed to the accused being given bail, it was not ready to argue bail because the state needed some time to clarify some issues first and as such requested the matter to be postponed to February 5.

Mrs Tirelo also noted that the investigating officer was in South Africa pursuing the matter further adding that the information he would provide the prosecution with would inform their decision.

Furthermore the second accused’s travel documents were still to be verified, but was certain that if all could be completed before Wednesday, she would  be able to motivate the issue of bail.

For their part, defence counsels, Mr Leonard Mosepele for the first accused, Seretse, and Mr Shame Taimu for Katembele and Mhina who were keen to motivate bail application subsequently gave in after Senior Magistrate Alice Rammapudi ruled that there would be no use in arguing bail while the state was not ready to reply. She also noted that the investigating officer who they wanted on the witness stand was not present as he was in South Africa.

Furthermore, Magistrate Rammapudi said even if they were to present their bail arguments, she was still not going to deliver ruling the same day, but noted  that she would  make sure that she delivered it as soon as possible, taking into account the plight of the accused as they had been in custody for some time.  ENDS