Witness says suspect posed no threat
Sharon Mathala | Friday June 12, 2015 16:05
Momphitlhi went missing in Molepolole whilst under police custody in 2011. Kgaswanyane said that he did not understand why the family had dragged the police to court when they had sought intervention from the highest office in the BPS to assist them investigate the whereabouts of their son, adding that they also asked for the gravesite they had identified as belonging to their son to be investigated.
“The family asked for the gravesite, they identified to be investigated, this was done and proved it was not for their son. The family also believed that the police had killed Momphitlhi but an enquiry sent out to the DPP by the police proved he was not killed by the police,” he said. Justice Busang, however, dismissed Kgaswanyane’s application citing that there were other factors that had not been addressed.
On Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police Keabetswe Makgophe gave testimony saying that the police were still looking for Momphitlhi and that they had abided by the family’s concerns, including investigating every lead the family had suggested. “We met up with the family on a number of occasion for progress reports. The investigating officer followed every lead the family told us,” he said. Makgophe told the courtroom filled with Momphitlhi’s family that he then took disciplinary action against his officers for negligence but the independent police disciplinary council overturned his decision.
Giving his account of the incident Thatayotlhe Kristen, a police officer who handled Momphitlhi when he was last seen, said that he had interviewed Momphitlhi at the Molepolole Police Station. He said that Momphitlhi told the police that the car that was used during the robbery was in the cutody of his uncle who stayed in Old Naledi. Kristen then drove to Old Naledi with two officers but upon arrival, the suspect fled from their custody. “ I remained in the car. We were parked in front of the yard, but because it was dark I could not see what was happening.
About 15 to 30 minutes later, the officers returned and told me that Momphitlhi had escaped from custody and they couldn’t find him,” he explained. Kristen refuted negligence on his part, adding that they reported the matter to the Old Naledi Police Station. He said prior to his escape, Momphitlhi was cooperative and did not pose any threat to anyone, or show signs that he had plans to escape. The case has been postponed to July 22 – 23, 2015.