Mabeo may be in contempt of court

Sharon Mathala | Tuesday May 17, 2016 15:27

 

Justice Abednico Tafa of the Lobatse High Court had given the minister 14 days to provide the families with the report, which lapsed on May 4, 2016.  The lawyer to the families of the deceased officers, confirmed that they had not received the report but would not go into any details.

“We have not yet been given the report.  I cannot discuss this matter fully,” said Malcom Gobhodza the families’ lawyer.

At the time of going to press, the minister could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone rang unanswered.

The three deceased officers, Air wing captain Superintendent Keokeditse Sobatha, Inspector Ricardo Mabotho and assistant Superintendent Shepherd Ntobedzi died on April 20, 2014.  In his judgement Tafa said, “The application succeeds, but only to the extent that the second respondent (Mabeo) is hereby ordered to make available to the applicants, the final report of the accident involving Euro-Copter helicopter Call sign BPS-02 as compiled by the Directorate of Accident Investigation minus all witness statements.”

The judge also said the close relatives of the deceased persons are entitled to know how their loved ones died for purposes of closure. In addition to the minister’s report, the families had also requested all statements recorded in the course of the investigation.  They had also requested service records of the helicopter that was used by the deceased, the certificate of airworthiness and registration records of the said helicopter.

During the case, prosecutor Charles Gulubane had cited fear of the families using the report to apportion blame.  The judge warned the families not to do so.

“The applicants are to keep the contents of the report confidential and not pass same to anybody not party to these proceedings,” Tafa said.