�Body parts kidnapping� case stirs up Jwaneng

Lebogang Baingapi | Wednesday February 10, 2016 17:33

 

Instead, Dikarabo Modisaotsile, 31, Kediemetse Motampa, 21, and Kenanao Madile, 31, were only charged with a single count of robbery and assault, stunning the multitudes in attendance and the others lined-up outside the court.

According to the charge sheet, the trio and another who is still at large, are alleged to have attacked Mmaelo Itheetseng by hitting him with fists, kicks, a spanner, a knobkerrie and a knife before walking away with his P150 and a torch worth P50 at Sekwele cattlepost on January 4, 2016.

After the assault, the mining town was swept up by rumours that the attack had actually been to harvest body parts, hence the violence involved.

Speculation was intensified after the trio were denied bail during their first appearance in court on January 11, where prosecutors said investigations were still in their infancy.

Investigators also said they were yet to recover some of the weapons alleged to have been used, as well as stolen items.

In addition, they said they needed to give the complainant time to recover from his injuries.

The prosecution led by Sub-Inspector Edwin Supang, fuelled further speculation after informing the court that there were more questions than answers in the matter.

“One will wonder why these men could violently rob an old man of a mere P150 and a torch worth P50,” Supang said.

The three have denied the charges, with Modisaotsile saying the complainant had already declared that he does not know them and had only implicated the fourth accused person who is still at large.

This week, police had a tough time controlling the public who gathered outside the court to catch a glimpse of the trio.

The three entered into a tense court room, with one of them, Modisaotsile, in chains as he failed to satisfy bail conditions granted previously.

Their conditional bail was set on their second court appearance on January 25.

They were ordered to pay P500 and provide sureties who will bind themselves with P1,000 each. 

Modisaotsile pleaded with the court to vary his cash bail conditions, saying he was unable to raise the funds.

The defence attorney, Lone Masire, representing Madile, also asked that his client report to Block 5 police in Gaborone, as doing so twice a week in Jwaneng was proving costly.

The prosecutor opposed Modisaotsile’s plea saying the other two had already complied.  However, Madile’s request was complied with.

Modisaotsile will appear on February 22 for status hearing while Motampa and Madile will appear on March 21, 2016.