Vol.23 No.37

Monday 13 March 2006    

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Motswana Man Convicted In Zim Court

By Fraser Mpofu
3/13/2006 3:59:37 PM (GMT +2)

A Zimbabwean court has convicted a Motswana man of theft by false pretences after a P110,000 car purchase deal collapsed. The 33-year-old Kesegofetse Dikatholo of Selebi-Phikwe was convicted and remanded in custody by a Bulawayo court till March 14 to allow his lawyer to make an application challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court. Dikatholo had pleaded not guilty to theft by false pretences but was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Jennifer Chikate.


He was not represented during the trial but later he engaged a lawyer, Samp Mlaudzi. The lawyer indicated that he wanted to make an application that the trial court did not have jurisdiction over the case. He is arguing that since the alleged offence was committed in Botswana, his client cannot be tried in Zimbabwe. State counsel, Whisper Mabaudi said that some time last year, Donovan Keith Jones, a Zimbabwean who resides in Morningside suburb in Bulawayo, wanted to buy a car and Dikatholo told him he had one in Durban, South Africa. After agreeing on the price, Jones went to Botswana to pay and collect the vehicle last November. However, he was told that the vehicle was still on its way from South Africa. Two days later, Dikatholo phoned Jones' nephew telling him that the motor vehicle had been delivered and that they could pay for it. The following day Dikatholo and Jones' unnamed nephew travelled from Botswana to Zimbabwe, where Dikatholo was paid the full purchase price of the car. They then returned to Botswana for Jones' nephew to get the car. Dikatholo took him to Palapye where he had indicated the car was. On arrival, he changed his story telling Jones' nephew that the motor vehicle was in fact in Serowe. They then set off to Serowe but before they got there, they were stopped by police who searched and seized money from them suspecting that they were criminals. After this, Dikatholo was said to have started avoiding the complainant who later reported the matter to Zimbabwean police. A trap was set, resulting in the arrest of Dikatholo in Zimbabwe. During the trial, Dikatholo pleaded in mitigation for lenience saying that since he is working, he will reimburse the money. He has not yet been sentenced pending the outcome of his lawyer's application. Send us your comments about Mmegi newspaper Search For Old Newspaper Editions To advertise contact us through email

 
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