Police, DIS war intensifies
Sharon Mathala | Monday December 19, 2022 06:00
A leaked police internal investigations report that Mmegi is in possession of has shown inconsistencies in its initial official report. Such holes in the investigation are coming up alongside a continued cat-and-mouse stand-off between the Botswana Police Service (BPS) and the DIS, following the Phase 2 massacre of the heist suspects.
In the report, the police reflect it was at around 10am on February 23 when the Main Mall was brought to a standstill as armed robbers dramatically hit Bank of Baroda, causing commotion and traffic congestion as they ran from the scene in a getaway car.
Gunfire was exchanged between law enforcement and the suspected robbers. It was then reported that there was only one survivor, a 30-year-old female, Tsaone Tshegofatso Reboeleng.
According to a then-media statement from police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube it was said that the deceased robbery suspects were Batswana and South Africans aged between 20 and 35.
“Eleven armed men attacked and robbed a Security Systems cash-in-transit motor vehicle of over P986,000 at the Main Mall this morning. The robbers fled the scene and were, later on, followed and confronted by the police and an exchange of fire ensued resulting in fatal injuries to some of the robbers. Police have in the process arrested a 30-year-old Motswana woman who was in the company of the robbers,” read the statement from Motube then.
Motube had said that four pistols and an AK-47 assault rifle were found in their possession whilst an undisclosed amount of cash was recovered from the robbers.
Now Mmegi, in possession of a police document that seemingly details fully what transpired on the fateful day, learnt from the police report that at around 10:10am, the police headquarters through the radio control room received a report that five armed men had attacked and robbed Security Systems guards and went away with a cash box.
The security guard had been transporting cash from the Security Systems vault in Tlokweng and upon arrival at the bank, the two guards encountered problems with opening the box, they then called their supervisor to assist with opening the box.
After failing to open the box, the three decided to retreat to the office to fix the problem and they did not make it that far.
The police report alleges that just when the security guards were about to board the vehicle, five men in possession of weapons attacked them. The five men managed to dispossess the guard of the box full of cash and drove off in a black BMW car with fake registration number plates.
The car was abandoned in Extension 10 as the alleged robbers changed vehicles. The police, according to the report, later received reliable information that the suspects were hiding at a house in Gaborone in Phase 2 and a team was immediately dispatched to the scene.
“The first team to arrive at the yard which has got a screen wall was confronted with fire upon arrival and the team returned fire and consequently one suspect was shot in the garage,” reads the initial police report.
According to the report, the police then entered the house and found the culprits hiding in the ceiling of the house and they (police) ordered them to surrender but they did not comply.
“The police spread tear gas with a view to force them to surrender but they remained defiant. After a short while, the police entered the house again and commanded the culprits to surrender and the command once again fell on deaf ears. One of the officers, from the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, based at the Special Support Group (SGG) was hit by a bullet on the right index finger and the police once again returned fire which resulted in the fatal shooting of three suspects,” the police report stated.
How the DIS allegedly invaded the shooting scene
In what the police report now claims to be a true picture of what allegedly transpired on the day, the police point fingers at a second team entirely made up of DIS officers who forcibly took over the scene from them.
The police report alleges that upon arrival at the scene, a team from the DIS Sebele office instructed the police team to stand down as they allegedly took over the scene.
As the police-led team, which also comprised the police, DIS officers, Botswana Defence Force (BDF), and Special Support Group (SSG) allegedly tried to explain to the DIS team that they had everything under control, the DIS officers would reportedly not back down.
“Later, a team of DIS officers led by a DIS Officer (names withheld) took over and shot six suspects. The bodies were later taken to Extension 2 clinic where they were certified dead,” reads the police report.
According to the report, after the bloody scene, the police recovered from the house one AK-47 rifle with 16 live rounds, two 9mm pistols with seven live rounds and nine live rounds, and two empty cartridges. From the ceiling, the police recovered another 9mm pistol, with nine live ammunition as well as a white plastic bag containing money and 10 empty cartridges.
“The sum of P986,350 was recovered from the house out of the P986,470 stolen,” further reads the police report.
Reboeleng, the massacre’s only survivor, has since been charged with armed robbery and has appeared numerous times before the Extension 2 Magistrate’s Court.
As the case rages on and Batswana await answers, a source privy to the case has shared that a tense but stealth war between the police and the DIS over the mass shooting incident is brewing.
According to the source, the police who had opened an internal investigation into the matter demanded statements from the Sebele DIS team that shot and killed the last six suspects.
The Mmegi source shared that because all armed suspects inside the house were shot and killed, the police insist they would have not killed the last six. The officers want answers as the six that died, had been the case as a direct result of the DIS’ actions.
The DIS, according to the source, have ignored all requests from the police to provide statements on the actions of their team, which had found the police-led team at the scene, to give a detailed report on why they shot and killed the suspects.
“I don’t think initially, the police wanted to blame the DIS for the shooting of the last six suspects. The police just asked for statements because there was an internal investigation going on. “Someone has to account for what happened and that is exactly what the police investigations are about. I don’t think they necessarily intended to put blame on the DIS, but of course, they are not the ones who shot the six,” the source shared.
Reached for comment, police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Motube confirmed there was an internal investigation into the Phase 2 mass shooting.
However, Motube was hamstrung to shed further details on the matter saying investigations are still ongoing.
“The matter which you are referring to is still under investigation. You might be aware that any encounter with the BPS that ends with the loss of life is investigated to determine whether there was any foul play. I am very reluctant to share details on this matter,” Motube said.
Pressed further on the DIS’ role in the matter, Motube said: “Those are operational details, which I can’t share with you.”
Motube, however, could not commit to a time frame when the investigation into whether there was any foul play in the Phase 2 shooting or not will be concluded, only saying, “Soon”.
In his response, the director of of public relations, Edward Robert told Mmegi: "The DIS is constrained by the Intelligence and Security Services Act (2008) from discussing specific details of internal operational issues with the media. The Directorate however warns members of the public and the media to always be vigilant of spurious information that may be shared for purposes of causing unnecessary public alarm and anxiety." He added that The DIS and its mandate partners always perform their functions and activities professionally, and collaborate cordially in line with all the established laws, in the best interest of the country’s national security.