P3.5m suspected arsonist denied bail

Magistrate Mokone adjourned the case to August 22 for bail re-application before a substantive magistrate. The state alleges that on July 6, 2017 at Betta Beef Farms in Lobatse, the accused person broke into the farm office and stole electronic gadgets including a computers and iPads worth P350,000 before proceeding to steal P150,000 in cash, all the properties belonging to Jacobus Frederick Jansen van Vuuren.

On count two, Caster is charged with arson. The state alleges that the accused person set the farm house ablaze on the fateful day. The total value of the burnt building is P2,900,000. The accused is alleged to have continued to damage some other properties which were within the farm at the time of the alleged offence and the total costs of all losses amounts to P3.5 million.