Court postpones voter trafficking case in Bobonong
Onalenna Kelebeile | Thursday November 13, 2014 12:39
The former councillor for Mabolwe-Semolale-Gobojango ward, known as MASEGO, Goja Dikinya was arrested and detained early this year as part of police investigations into possible unlawful registration of voters or voter trafficking to be precise. He and his co-accused appeared before magistrate Alice Rammapudi on Tuesday morning.
State prosecutor police Sub Inspector Mokganedi Gaofetoge told the court that the accused appeared for reading of facts but pleaded for another mention date to be set as the substantive prosecutor in the case was on emergency leave.
The magistrate set November 27 for another mention where the facts of the matter will be read to the former councillor.
Meanwhile, in a similar case Keeme Mokenti and Masego Masebe were found guilty of illegally registering voters in Bobirwa constituency.
The matter was also postponed to November 28 for reading of facts.
Prosecutor Gaofetoge informed the magistrate that the substantive prosecutor was on emergency leave while the other accused is in confinement as she gave birth only two days ago.
In an unrelated case a police Special Constable in Botshabelo in Selebi-Phikwe, Boitumelo Gaebolae who appeared before Bobonong magistrate court has pleaded not guilty to the charge of illegal hunting and killing of wild animals.
The fact of the matter is that Gaebolae acted jointly with Gakologelwang Mohako, Kagiso Simon and Edwin Nkwadi killed a small spotted genet or tshipa, a hare, two impalas and four springhares.
The accused were found in possession of the carcasses by a patrolling team of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and police officers during the night of September 22 along Sefhophe /Tetsebjwe road.
According to the charge sheet this is contrary to the Wildlife and National Parks Act. The three other accused pleaded guilty to the offence whilst the special constable pleaded not guilty. The three accused confirmed the carcasses were found in the boot of a corolla with two dogs, two machetes and three torches in the backseat during a search by the patrol team.
They also confirmed to magistrate Rammapudi that they were cautioned about the illegal hunting and that they were given an affidavit by the wildlife biologist. The three accused told court that they would not engage attorneys due to lack of funds.
The machetes, torches and albums of the dogs that were used during the illegal hunting were brought before court including the white corolla that was used during the commission of the offence. The prosecuting officer is Sergeant Tebogo Kehupetse of Botswana Police.
The magistrate is expected to make a ruling on the matter next week Tuesday.