Thieving sisters granted bail pending appeal

Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday August 12, 2015 16:07

 

The trio, Dorcus Moilwa 33, Gabofele Moilwa 28, and Tebogo Moilwa 19, who are sisters, yesterday appeared before Gaborone High Court Judge, Justice Bengbame Sechele following their bail application.

 

The trio were both accused and convicted of stealing goods at Pep Store valued at P2,705 in April 2015 after pleading guilty.

 

They were sentenced to two years in jail of which six months was suspended by Extension Two’s magistrate. Dorcus Moilwa who was employed as a casual labourer at Pep Store was charged with one count of stealing by servant while her unemployed sisters were charged with theft common.

 

When giving the sisters bail, Sechele said he took into consideration that the 18 months the women were to serve might elapse while they are still pursuing their appeal, hence they might be prejudiced.

 

“I am obliged to give the appellants bail so as they can be given a fair hearing and they wont be prejudiced if their appeal succeeds because the months they are to serve might elapse while they are still appealing,” he said.

 

Justice Sechele explained that though he has not yet received record of proceedings from the Magistrate’s Court he opted to give the trio bail because they had raised a lot of points to consider in their application.

 

“I took into consideration that the trio, who are all first time offenders, did raise prospective points to look into in their appeal,” he said.

 

The sisters who stay apart were given conditional bail, were expected to report at their respective police stations when required and to were stay within their designated places.