Cops charged in Setlampoloka murder
Correspondent | Friday July 11, 2014 15:40
Setlampoloka, of Tshikinyega Ward in Mahalapye, was found dead in an uninhabited area near Mogoditshane in 2009, a day after he was arrested and handed over to the Mogoditshane Police Station as a suspect in an armed robbery case.
Yesterday, Minister of Justice, Defence and Security Dikgakgamatso Seretse told Parliament that the Setlampoloka trial will proceed from September 2 to 5 September, and then later that month from the 15-16.
The Setlampoloka case is one of 10 known cases of unlawful killings and disappearances of suspects in police custody.
MP for Lobatse Nehemiah Modubule had yesterday asked Seretse to update the National Assembly on these cases.
In at least two of the cases, the accused police officers have been acquitted and discharged, Seretse said.
One of these involves the killing of Mothusinyana Moagi who was shot by police in 2009. Seretse said the case was completed at Francistown High Court and the officer charged with murder was acquitted and discharged on June 26, 2012.
In the other, four police officers accused of murdering David Monggae were acquitted and discharged in 2011. In 2009, Monggae collapsed during interrogation by police, and later died.
In two of the cases, the inquest dockets were closed, and there has been no further action.
“The Inquest docket was closed by the DPP on 22/07/09, no further action,” said Seretse in reference to a case involving deceased Tshepo Molefe, an alleged victim of police shooting in 2009.
When pressed to explain why the dockets were closed with no further action, the Minister said the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is the one responsible for prosecution and does not give reasons for why people are discharged or acquitted.
“An inquest hearing was held on 03-4 July 2014 at Francistown Magistrate Court to determine whether the officers involved should be prosecuted or not. The presiding officer is yet to give his findings,” the Minister said, on the case involving Jonathan Elliot who was also allegedly shot by police in 2010.
Moreover Seretse said that a docket was opened and submitted to the DPP for assessment and final determination on the case involving Olebile Sylvester Kefhitilwe, who disappeared while in police custody on 2010/2011 and the response is still awaited.
The House also learned that officers involved in Kefhitilwe’s case have been disciplined, with the sub-Inspector demoted to the rank of a sergeant and two special constables dismissed, while one special constable resigned before conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.