P2M Heist Suspects Arraigned

Pini Bothoko | Tuesday October 19, 2021 06:00

 

The quartet, Mothusi Alfred Motomela (42) of Mochudi, Thapelo Lekobe (38) of Mmadinare and two South African nationals working as taxi drivers, Mzwandile Mazibuko (25) and Ntholephi Elliot Ntshalintshali (29) attacked and robbed security guards and the police, who were escorting a G4S cash-in-transit vehicle at Turn Right Mall in Mogoditshane on Wednesday morning.

Then, the four men made off with P2,310,000 of which P2,110,000 was recovered during the quartet’s arrest. Two guns belonging to the police that the criminals had gotten away with after overpowering them were also recovered. A fifth suspect, who fled the scene upon confrontation with the police, is suspected to have gotten away with the missing P200,000.

The missing suspect is suspected to have fled the crime scene with a smoke box with the missing cash. Despite facing an armed robbery charge, the quartet is also faced with charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. The two South Africans also face another charge of entering Botswana through an ungazetted point of entry.

On the first count, the four men are accused of robbing G4S Security company P2,310,000 at Turn Right Mall in Moditshane on Wednesday last week. The quartet is also alleged to have threatened Gabriel Moses Shiko and Ditiro Modisane, employees of G4S Security Company, and Khube Molwane and Gotsetswemang Mokhutshwe, members of Botswana Police Service (BPS), with pistols and rifle in order to obtain or retain the stolen money and guns The four menalso face a charge of unlawful possession of AK47 rifle with 17 live rounds of an AK47 rifle.

The two South Africans, Mazibuko and Ntshalintshali, also face an addition charge of of entering Botswana illegally and staying in Botswana without authority. They are alleged to have crossed into Botswana near the Phitsane Molopo border. The four suspects were remanded in custody and will appear for mention on October 29, 2021.