Another victim of DIS Torture Speaks Out

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday October 23, 2009 00:00

In a police statement deposed at the Gaborone Central Police Station, 32-year old Oganne Ntsima Kolane says about four DIS agents fetched him from his home and ferried him to DIS headquarters at former Radio Botswana premises on Khama Crescent, near State House.

'They demanded that I tell them where (a certain) Michael Mogome was,' Kolane says. 'I then told them that I last saw Mogome in February.'Kolane said upon arrival at DIS headquarters, one of the four officers introduced him to three others in the office saying: 'Ke yo monna yo o fitlhileng Michael Mogome (Here is the man who is hiding Michael Mogome).'

The officer then informed him there had been a robbery at Mogonono Ward in Molepolole in which Kolane and Mogome were involved, he says. Kolane was subjected to interrogation for almost two hours during which he was  beaten up by the seven DIS agents.

'As I attempted to answer their questions, they slapped me over the ears with both hands and all over the body,' Kolane alleges. He was made to call certain people to ask for Mogome's phone number but failed to get it. 'We called Mogome's girlfriend who told us that she last saw him last year,' he says. The DIS agents told him that they would not leave him until he delivered Mogome. He was photographed and given a number to call when he knew, saw or learnt of the whereabouts of Mogome.

Mogome is a robbery suspect classified most wanted by the police who made a major breakthrough when they arrested Botsi Kefitile (26) of Tshosa Ward in Molepolole last week. Kefitile and other gangsters are alleged to have been terrorising people in Molepolole and its environs. He was arrested at Ga-Kgatla post office while planning to rob the facility as old-age pensioners waited in line.