Teen girl pleads guilty to theft spree

Lebogang Mosikare | Thursday March 5, 2015 18:12

 

It is said she stole a black Hyundai vehicle worth P28,000 last month in Jwaneng. She is alleged to have stolen goods amounting to P1,27.80 and P5,565 on separate occasions. The prosecution, led by Sub-Inspector Edwin Supang, asked the court to remand the young woman in custody because she is a flight risk.

“The accused is living a nomadic life and thus poses a threat of absconding trial. She told the investigating officer that she was from Pheto ward in Maun but later changed and said she was from Tutume. I also fear that the accused might interfere with state witnesses,” Supang said. Ijani declined an invitation to challenge the prosecution’s demand for her remand. She acknowledged that the prosecution’s statements why she should not be given bail were truthful.

Magistrate Odirile  Mokgatle ordered that the accused be remanded in custody to allow the prosecution to prepare the facts of the case. Meanwhile two 20-year-old boys from Thankane were denied bail in a case in which they are accused of murdering one man and seriously injuring another.

Thatayaone Matshwane and Willy Jackson Koto are alleged to have murdered Pini Lenyato and injured Kenneth Gakebatshabe on January 5 this year. The two accused are students at Barolong Vocational Training Centre in Pitsane.

Although the prosecution had offered a condition bail of P3,000 each together with binding sureties, Matshwane shocked the court when he said he was not interested in being granted bail.

The young suspect said bail was a waste of time as he would soon be committed to the High Court on the murder charge and thus the bail would be revoked. As Matshwane spoke, a man who identified himself as an uncle, shouted from the public gallery saying his nephew did not know what bail meant.

The magistrate ordered the man to hold his peace and respect the court.

Koto echoed his co-accused’s sentiments, revealing that the pair had made a better application through their lawyer for bail at the High Court, where they will face the murder charge. The magistrate remanded the accused and ordered the investigating officer to appear at the next mention and update the court on the security of the defendants if they are granted bail.