Senior Prisons officer faces drug, abuse of office charges
Larona Makhaiza | Wednesday March 4, 2026 08:38
The officer, Joshua Joseph, who is a deputy officer in command at the Village prison facility, appeared before Extension II Magistrate Court this week and was slapped with the two charges.
On the first count as per the charge sheet, the State alleges that on or about November 2025 at Block 6, Joseph collected a bag containing illicit substances from a certain individual.
The said individual has since turned a State witness. According to court papers, the bag was allegedly intended to be delivered to a certain prisoner, and it contained what is suspected to be contraband worth P7,000.
On the second count, it is alleged that Joseph, 42, abused his position on November 2, 2025, while employed by the Government of Botswana. Additionally, it is alleged that he smuggled two black Itel mobile phones into the prison facility and received P7,000 for each device.
When asked to plead whether he was guilty or not guilty, he replied, 'Not guilty.' Joseph also told the court that he had nothing to say when further asked by Chief Magistrate Kamogelo Mmesi, on whether he had anything to say. Meanwhile, State prosecutors have served the accused with the witness statements and revealed to the court that they were ready to proceed to the Case Management Conference (CMC) and possibly set trial dates. After being served with all key evidence needed for prosecution, the Magistrate proceeded to set the matter for March 26 for CMC. The case continues.