Magistrate has a case to answer � court

Sharon Mathala | Wednesday September 7, 2016 15:25

 

Lebakeng (34) is alleged to have, in July 2014 at the Woodhall police station, uttered words that legally seemed to threaten one Utlwanang Mokoe.

According to the charge sheet, Lebakeng threatened Mokoe by uttering the following words: “Ke tla go gasa ka metsi a kereke o bo o swa, gape ke tla go betsa ka lore lwame la kereke mo gare ga tlhogo o bo o swa.”

Lebakeng is not a stranger to controversy. Last year she jailed the former Lobatse police station commander Leoto Ramabokwa. On June 4, 2014, Ramabokwa was arrested for disobeying Lebakeng’s orders. “At the court and on the same day of 4th June 2014 plaintiff (Ramabokwa) was hauled before the Lobatse’s Magistrate Court with the said Cele Motlaleng [now Lebakeng] presiding who stated that she was prosecuting the plaintiff for contravening the penal code, which deals with disobedience of lawful orders despite her not possessing prosecutorial powers in respect of the offence,” Ramabokwa claimed.

The former cop also claimed that the magistrate then ordered that he be imprisoned at the Lobatse State Prison and that he appear before her two days later. Ramabokwa appeared before court two days later and was then ordered to be further remanded for another 20 days.

He claimed: “At all material times when Magistrate Motlaleng wrongfully arrested, detained and imprisoned plaintiff she acted out of malice; she acted beyond her judicial powers by determining a matter which is outside the confines of her jurisdiction and acting with utter contempt in respect of trite and basic constitutional provisions which were common fact to her by virtue of her position as an experienced magistrate boasting more than five years experience in the said position.”

Her current case however will continue in court on September 15 for continuation of trial.