Moshaweng duo face multiple charges

Lebogang Baingapi | Thursday October 22, 2015 11:42

 

A total of 21 witnesses are expected to testify before magistrate Segametsi Basinyi. On the first and second counts of burglary and stealing from a dwelling, they are alleged to have entered a house in Unit 4 where they stole a Nokia Asha cellphone valued at P799 and Hisense cellphone worth P1,300.

When trial commenced on Tuesday, the owner of the recovered Nokia Asha cellphone, Bonang Mangwegape told court that on the night of February 14, 2015, she saw someone enter her room.  She said that the person immediately disappeared before she could scream for help.  She then realised that her cellphone was missing and reported the matter to the police in the morning.

During cross-examination both the accused asked why the witness wanted to implicate them. They had declared before the police that they won the phone during a gambling game in Sese.

Mangwegape argued that she has never been to a gambling game and is convinced they stole it at her house. The second witness, Lame Kgabokwena, whose cellphone was not recovered, could not identify the accused persons saying the night she spent at Mangwegape’s house, she slept in a separate room. Another witness, Kgomotso Babitseng who bought the stolen phone said in May 2015, he was approached by Tlholeane with a Nokia Asha cellphone, which he was selling for P500. He said he negotiated the price down to P150 and finally bought it because the accused had said he was desperately  in need of money to go to his home village.

He was later approached by the police on August 15, 2015 in search of the stolen phone.

Mohubuwakoma said he would not cross examine the witness because his name was not mentioned during testimony, while Tlholeane said Babitseng should tell the court the truth, that they were together at a gambling game.

The case was adjourned after Mohubuwakoma said he was not fit to proceed with trial.  The case continues today.