Alleged robbers denied bail
Lebogang Baingapi | Thursday January 14, 2016 14:05
Their bid for freedom hit a snag Monday after Magistrate Basetsana Keakantse denied them bail to allow the police to continue their investigations as well as to allow the complainant to recuperate.
The trio, Dikarabo Modisaotsile (31), of Bodumatau lands, Kediemetse Motampa (21) of Sese, Kenanao Madile, (31) and another who was still at large, are alleged to have attacked the complainant by punching and kicking him before hitting him with a spanner and knobkerrie. It is also alleged that they threatened the victim with a knife. The offence was committed on January 4, 2016.
The investigating officer, Detective Constable Otshidile Popo pleaded with the court to remand the accused as investigations were still at an infant stage. He said he was yet to recover some of the weapons alleged to have been used, the stolen items and to allow the complainant to recover as he sustained some injuries.
He pleaded that he be given time to arrest the fourth suspect and recover the stolen money. Popo also feared that if released, the trio might temper with investigations. Modisaotsile said the investigating officer has long recovered the weapons and the complainant has told the officer that he did not know the accused. “You are not telling the truth when you say the complainant has sustained injuries. He is fit to come before court and furthermore he only implicated the fourth accused person who is not before court,” he told court.
Modisaotsile further said he wondered why the investigating officer believed that he will temper with the investigations yet he did not run away when police came to arrest him.
Madile also distanced himself from the offence as he claimed the two accused persons called him to come and assist fix their car. However Popo countered that they all planned the robbery and he (Madile) provided money for fuel to Sekwele cattlepost and met his fellow accused after the robbery at Bush Bar.
Prosecutor Sub-Inspector Edwin Supang was of the view that there were more unanswered questions in the case. “One will wonder why these men can violently rob an old man a mere P150 and a torch worth P50,” he said.
They will appear again on January 25.