Edward Mzwinila secures bail in new robbery case
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday May 13, 2014 10:47
Mzwinila recently completed his sentence for the 2003 Bank of Baroda armed robbery while Seboko was on bail in a different case involving the theft of more than P1 million in cash and goods from Sefalana Hyper Store. In the latest matter, Mzwinila and the two men are accused of stealing cartons of cigarettes worth P29,000 from a Block Three Industrial warehouse early last Thursday morning.
At Friday’s court date, Mzwinila, Seboko and Molaodi engaged local attorney, Obakwe Monamo, who successfully secured P2,000 cash bail with sureties in the latest incident. The three accused persons are required to report every week on Wednesday at the police station. Prosecution counsel, Lentlhabetse Willie, had requested the court to remand the three accused persons in custody saying investigations were incomplete. He argued that the State was likely to file more charges against the trio once investigations were complete, as some of the stolen items had not been recovered. “Investigating officers say four people were involved and we have only managed to arrest the three accused persons,” he said. “The other one is still at large. If granted bail, the accused persons are likely to interfere in our investigations.” Willie also added that by being charged with the latest case, Molaodi and Seboko had violated their bail conditions for two other pending cases involving break-in and theft.
However, the accused’s lawyer, Monamo, argued that his client’s bail conditions did not contain any reference to commit further offences.
He challenged the state to prove that his clients would interfere with investigations if granted bail and said Willie should stop using the word “may” in arguments against bail.
Monamo said the state had failed to advance its case, adding that the procedures followed by prosecutors in bringing the accused before court were incorrect and unlawful. “The State has an obligation to place evidence before court but so far there is nothing,” he said.