Man slaps police with with P2.5m lawsuit

Lebogang Mosikare | Wednesday February 4, 2015 10:54

 

The lawsuit follows Olapile’s arrest and detention at Selebi-Phikwe prison for two months and two weeks on suspicions that he murdered Kganetso Mothofela in Mmadinare in December 2011.

His lawyer, Tumisang Mokobi, stated that his client attended several court mentions until the police withdrew charges against him because there was no evidence linking him to the offence.

“The only thing that linked my client to the deceased is that he inserted his sim card in a mobile phone that he borrowed from one Mmakanyi Ramatebele at a bank in Selebi-Phikwe. He was arrested, detained and charged with murder based on that fact only.

“Despite my client’s explanation that he once borrowed a mobile phone from Ramatebele at a bank, police officers proceeded to charge him with murder,” reads part of the lawsuit papers addressed to the Attorney General (AG).

Mokobi further states, “Charges against my client were dropped because there was no evidence that linked him to the charge. The real culprit who committed the offence was found and is currently on trial for the offence. My client’s arrest and detention were unlawful and his prosecution was malicious.

“During the process of my client’s arrest, police officers also took his mobile phone and we hereby demand that the police return it. As a result of my client’s unlawful arrest, prosecution and malicious prosecution, my client suffered damages in the sum of P2.5 million which we demand within 30 days failure to which we shall institute proceedings at the High Court”.

The Attorney General (AG) chambers in Francistown confirmed having received the papers, through a Savingram addressed to Olapile’s attorneys.

“We are in receipt of your statutory notice to sue on behalf of your client. Please note that we have instructions to handle the matter,” the AG officials write.