‘Husband threatens to kill wife who went AWOL from marriage’
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday January 17, 2022 06:00
The State alleges that Mokhululi Moffat (40) threatened to kill his wife Tiroyamodimo Moffat on January 9, 2022 at Somerset location by sending her a cellphone message that reads, “Ke tlile go go bolaya wena ke a go bolelela” or “I am going to kill you, I am telling you” or words to that effect.
When Mokhululi appeared before Magistrate Thabang Chokwe on Tuesday for arraignment, Olga Khumoetsile from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) applied for the accused to be remanded in custody. Khumoetsile requested that plea in the matter be reserved because investigations were still at their infancy. She then called the Investigating Officer (IO) to give reasons why Mokhululi should be remanded in custody.
The IO detective constable Bennet Ompatile prayed with the court to keep Mokhululi in custody because he was just allocated the case to investigate the previous day.
“The complainant reported the matter on January 9, 2022 saying that her husband was threatening to kill her. The investigations in the matter are still fresh. The complainant has pleaded with me to make an application before court for the accused to be remanded in custody because she fears for her life. She said the accused has a history of physically abusing her. My plea to the court is for it to remand the accused in custody so that his temper may cool down,” said Ompatile.
Asked by Chokwe how long he thinks the investigations will take, Ompatile said 14 days will suffice.
Ompatile told the court that he also has to make an application before court for the service provider, Mascom, to provide him with the Short Message Service (SMS) that was allegedly sent by Mokhululi to Tiroyamodimo in order to ascertain the veracity of the SMS.
Quizzed by Chokwe how Mokhululi may interfere with investigations that will be carried out by Mascom, Ompatile said the safety of the complainant was of paramount importance because Mokhululi may carryout his mission of killing his wife if he was instantly given bail.
He added that keeping Mokhululi in custody will enable him to reflect about the offence he allegedly committed. Ompatile stated that when Mokhululi was brought before court in the morning he was still crying. Ompatile added that when he questioned Mokhululi about the offence he allegedly committed, Mokhululi also told him (IO) that his wife had deserted their marriage since last year in May.
“The accused also told me that he currently does not know where his wife is staying,” said Ompatile. During cross-examination, Mokhululi prematurely said that he indeed sent an SMS to his wife to the effect that he wanted to kill her and asked the court for forgiveness.
“I am asking the court to grant me bail. I have a school going child who I have recently transferred to Dukwi to attend school where I am currently residing. I have also recently found employment at the mine where I am working. I am asking for forgiveness. I accept that I used threatening words towards my wife. I am asking for forgiveness again. I will never do that again,” a sobbing Mokhululi pleaded with the court.
At that point, Magistrate Chokwe advised Mokhululi to cross-examine the IO and stop testifying. Mokhululi then asked the IO why was he (IO) making an application for his remand in custody. In response, Ompatile said that he was making an application for Mokhululi to be remanded in custody for the safety of the complainant. Mokhululi then promised the court that he will never carryout his intention of killing his wife.
At the end of the arraignment, Chokwe granted Mokhululi bail on condition that he pays P2,000, bring two sureties who shall each bind themselves with P1,000; shall not communicate with Tiroyamodimo in any manner whatsoever; shall not come 100 metres anywhere near Tiroyamodimo, shall attend court as and when required to do so and shall not be reasonably suspected of having committed any crime while he is on bail and shall report himself to Dukwi police station every Friday fortnightly. Mokhululi is due in court on January 31 for mention.