How the police covered their colleague
BAME PIET
Staff Writer
The Police this week played one of their most successful cover-ups for their colleague who allegedly shot and killed his lover on Monday morning at Ledumang in Broadhurst, Gaborone.
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On Tuesday the Police Public Relations Unit's Assistant Commissioner Christopher Mbulawa refused to release any details on the murder or even the date on which the man would appear before a magistrate's court saying they were waiting for their bosses to give them the go-ahead. It is unusual for the police to conceal details of a crime. The police always say that the media and members of the public are their partners in the fight against crime.
However, even the senior officers at Police Headquarters in Gaborone would not discuss anything with the press or release any information on Monday. However, on the same day the PR Unit of the Police was refusing to open up, the suspect was being whisked to the Broadhurst Magistrates' Court. Calls for reinforcements were made in haste. "People had wanted to see the suspect but nothing was communicated to anybody. Even calls for back up were made when we knew nothing about him appearing in court," said an officer who preferred anonymity.
And with the matter of the Court appearance dispensed with, the Police Public Relations Unit only issued a statement, a day later yesterday (Wednesday) to confirm that indeed they were investigating an incident in which a police officer stationed at Special Support Group (SSG) shot and killed his 37-year-old girlfriend with a service rifle on Monday. "The officer appeared before the Broadhurst Magistrate's Court yesterday, 01/12/09, facing a charge of murder. He is currently admitted to hospital for observation. The deceased hails from Tlokweng," a statement from the Police Public Relations Unit says.
The police have released the name of the suspect as Sub Inspector William Kgathi who originates from Mmadinare village. He will appear in court again on December 14 when he would be asked to plead.
