Alleged thieves denied bail

Lindiwe Mozola | Friday December 11, 2015 16:23

 

Mosimanegape Magapatona (32) and Cliament Sibanda (28) requested bail on grounds that they have not been proven guilty and that they did not know why they were arrested.

The accused are said to have on November 15 broken into Gaopalelwe Makgapho‘s house, suffocated her and stole cash amounting to P2,000. On the second offence they broke into Letlharapana Bar and stole cigarettes worth P394.

The investigation officer, Detective Lebogang Sebogise, however argued that the first accused is not legible for bail based on his previous offences. He added that the accused has two pending cases before the Mahalapye Magistrate Courts committed in 2012, while there are two more cases pending before Magistrate Gofaone Mosweu. He also has another pending case in Gantsi.

Sebogise argued that the second accused, Sibanda, is a Zimbabwean illegal immigrant.

Magapatona confirmed that it is true that he has pending cases but one of them was withdrawn in Mahalapye.

Appearing for the state, prosecutor James Segojame, also informed the court that the accused were not legible to bail.

In her response, Motsamai said that the court was alive to the presumption of innocence of the accused until proven guilty, but not when the accused is alleged to have a number of pending cases before court. She therefore ruled that the accused was not a candidate for bail.

Both accused were remanded in custody and will appear for another mention in 14 days.