Mogoditshane gang remanded for soldier�s murder
Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday March 31, 2015 15:03
Aubrey Gobonwang (24), Mosimanegape Khumalo (22), Botlhe Seadimo (22), Ithuteng Lucas (18), Boitshoko Boitshoko (18), Ontiretse Sethole (21) appeared before Broadhurst Magistrate Babedi Mathumo where their request to be released on bail was rejected.
The six are alleged to have murdered Ontuetse Masaseng on the night of March 13, 2015 at Nkoyaphiri in Mogoditshane.
When remanding the accused, Mathumo said they should file proper documents and their reasons for seeking bail.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sub-Inspector, Tsogo Rantopa, requested that the accused be remanded in custody, as investigations were still ongoing and they are likely to face more charges. “The accused should be remanded in custody because they are facing serious charges and we still have more charges to add to the murder one as investigations are still ongoing,” he said.
Two of the accused, Seadimo and Sethole sought bail saying they were being beaten and tortured by the police. “We are being beaten and tortured by the police using electric shockers and we are then forced to admit to so many crimes we did not commit simply because the torture is too much for us,” Seadimo said.
His co-accused, Gobonwang from Maipei ward in Mogoditsane told the court that at the time the crime was committed, he was elsewhere. “I request for bail because I did not commit the offence I am accused of and was not even around in that location on the night the crime was committed,” he said.
Lucas from Boseja ward in Mochudi said he was a citizen of Botswana and that he had no intention of running away more so that he did not have any relatives outside the country. “I am a citizen here and if given bail, I will abide by its conditions and again I request for bail because we live in congested prison cells despite having communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis,” he said.