Accused claim to be strangers

Correspondent | Thursday June 26, 2014 14:16

 

Proclaiming innocence, Seloka told the court that in the afternoon of April 26, 2014 he arrived in Jwaneng for a pool party at Debswana Club. While he was still entertaining himself, he was approached by two police officers who searched him and found money and a cellphone in his possession. He said that the officers told him that his friend was in police cells. When they arrived there, Seloka said he found his co-accused Tshepo Molaodi, who he claimed in court that he did not know.

The second accused did not cross-examine Seloka prompting the prosecutor Sub-inspector Edwin Supang to ask the accused why he did not challenge the evidence.

In response, Molaodi said though the officer who arrested him claimed to have found a remote control and two sim-cards in his possession, he knew nothing of the said items. He further said he challenged the statement before court.

When making final submissions, the prosecution revealed that the complainant Lawrence Matsoga was called to identify his property and the suspects, they admitted to having broken into his vehicle and further apologised to him, saying that had they known that the vehicle belonged to Matsoga they would not have broken into it since they come from the same village. The prosecution further said the accused admitted that the stolen items were recovered from them but later changed their statements.

The particulars of the offence are that on April 26, 2014 the accused persons jointly broke into a Toyota Hilux vehicle and stole two Nokia 1650 cellphones valued at P1,000 and an electric gate remote control that belonged to Matsoga. The case continues on July 7 and the accused are remanded in custody.