Politicians in court for theft
Lebogang Mosikare | Friday April 5, 2019 13:04
The State alleges that the duo acting together in concert and with a common purpose, fraudulently stole P143,000 belonging to the BPP during different dates in 2017.
It should however be noted that Dan, who has since decamped to the ruling BDP from the BPP in the wake of the allegations, is charged with more theft allegations than Peter as per the charge sheet. Following the theft allegations, the BPP moved swiftly to suspend Dan, 50, and Peter, 43, from all party activities. Peter still remains in indefinite suspension. The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Magistrate Kose Makobo on Thursday.
After the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, their attorney Ishmael Molobe told the court that their pleas were in accordance with his instructions.
The State prosecutor, Archie Makgoa from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions told the court that they were not opposed to the accused being granted bail.
Since the accused were not arraigned before their substantive magistrate Lebogang Kebeetsweng, Makgoa pleaded with Makobo that it would be prudent for the court not to set bail conditions but reserve that for the substantive magistrate during the next mention. Magistrate Makobo acceded to the State’s request and granted the accused unconditional bail.
They are due in court before the substantive magistrate on April 18.
The duo’s alleged troubles with the law are the latest scandals involving politicians who appeared in the city’s Magistrates Courts.
Last week, Thursday, former Speaker of the National Assembly and the UDC parliamentary candidate for the Tonota constituency, Pono Moatlhodi, 69, appeared in court to face a single count of assault.
The State alleges that the outspoken Moatlhodi and married couple, Maranyane Kebitsang, 67, and Nnyana Kebitsang, 60, acting together in concert, subjected Kesego Olekantse, 11, to inhuman treatment on January 30.
They assaulted Olekantse and thereafter unleashing a vicious dog to bite the boy causing him puncture wounds and bruises on his face and body in the process contrary to the Children’s Act.
The police allege that the trio’s legal brushes erupted after Olekantse allegedly stole mangoes from the Kebitsang home.