19 May 2025

On Monday, the Mochudi Magistrate Court denied bail to arson accused Ian Bafo Legobo of Lepipi ward in Mathubudukwane due to the magnitude of the destruction. 

Legobo, aged 38, was arraigned on May 18 in connection with the fire that burnt down Mathubudukwane Police Station last Friday close to mid-night. Presenting the matter before Mochudi Magistrate Ms Queen Moanga, the investigating officer, Ms Chandapiwa Mabangu, of Mochudi Police Station said her unit was informed of the matter on the aforesaid date and time. 

Detective Mabangu said at that juncture she and her team rushed to the scene where they found the premises on ruins of fire with nothing to rescue. 

“We therefore, made arrangement that fire fighters come to assist in extinguishing the fire. Then I took over the investigations of the matter and in the early hours of May 17 we returned to the scene to start the investigations. As we moved around we realized that the police fence was cut at the backside and we spotted a shoe mark. We then roped in the dog unit to use the dogs to track the whereabouts of the shoe track which led to the accused’s place,” said Detective Mabangu. She said the accused was then arrested that morning and taken to the police for interview. 

The Public Prosecutor, Senior Superintendent Isaac Mamadi, pleaded with the magistrate that since the investigations were still at an initial stage, the accused should be remanded. 

Mr Mamadi said the factors that ruled out Legobo as a candidate for bail were that he was a regular traveller between Botswana and South Africa hence the police feared that he might turn into a flight risk, and that he might interfere with the investigations as the matter was still fresh. . 

Bafo dismissed the reasons why he had to be denied bail saying the investigators should not fear that he might flee to South Africa and abscond the court since they have confiscated his passport. 

He asked the court to allow the investigators to keep his passport as an assurance that he will not skip bail. 

Bafo denied connection to the shoe mark saying there was no evidence that it was his. 

He said there was no how he could interfere with the investigations since he still has seven days remaining to stay in custody, a period he believed investigations should be completed. 

However, the magistrate denied Bafo bail on grounds that the destruction was a national blow and needed time to scrutinize the matter. She said Bafo would remain in police custody until June 10. ENDS