Mbulawa granted conditional bail

Lebogang Mosikare | Wednesday March 4, 2015 11:46

 

Christopher Mbulawa (not to be confused with Botswana Police spokesperson) is accused of defiling a 12-year-old schoolgirl last December at Phase Six.

Mbulawa, a taxi driver in Francistown, pleaded not guilty to the offence and said that he will engage an attorney.

Inspector Mengistu Chigala said that the state did not oppose the accused being granted conditional bail.

“The state will call five witnesses to testify against the accused,” he added.

Principal magistrate Dumisani Basupi granted Mbulawa bail on the condition that he pays P500, brings two sureties who shall each pay P500, and reports to Francistown police every Monday.

Basupi also instructed Mbulawa not to interfere with witnesses and must attend court whenever needed.

In addition he told Mbulawa to bring his attorney to court on March 17 to confirm if trial dates set for June 18 are suitable for him (his attorney).

Meanwhile in a separate case, a Security Coordinator at African Copper Mine, Thabo Medupi told the court that the company was not opposed to compensation from Kebalepile Malikinya.

Malikinya pleaded guilty to stealing diesel worth P1,600 belonging to the mine on February 2 in Dukwi.

In mitigation, Malikinya told the court to be lenient with him because his employers have not paid him for three months.

“I am a first offender who pleaded guilty to the offence and also taking care of my elderly mother and siblings. I am also taking care of my four children,” said Malikinya.

In another matter, Malikinya and three refugees from Dukwi Refugee Camp pleaded guilty to stealing diesel that was going to be used as evidence in his previous case.

The accused, Buidamo Tekiso from Namibia, Matthew Masuku, and Joel Kupe from Zimbabwe, pleaded guilty to assisting Malikinya to steal the diesel at Dukwi police station on February 7.

The diesel was stored in Malikinya’s car that was impounded by the police as part of evidence.

The accused took it to the bush in the outskirts of the village where they later disposed of it in order to conceal the evidence.

Basupi postponed the sentence in all the matters to March 5. He also ruled that the accused should remain in custody.

Prosecutor Keobonye Matsapa represented the state.