Alleged drug lord on the run

Lebogang Mosikare | Tuesday October 11, 2016 12:19

The state alleges that Wazha Nthoiwa, also known as Mapetla in social circles and his girlfriend Sharon Jubane, were found in possession of dagga weighing over 62 kg at Minestone location on May 13, 2014.

Nthoiwa is also implicated in a case in which together with Nchidzi Bakhobi, Terence Molefe, Tholego Mphapho and Galemong Latlhelang allegedly set fire to an exhibit room at Botswana Police Service Northern Division Headquarters in the process burning dagga that was stored inside the room between August 22 and 23, 2015.

In a related matter, the state alleges that the accused knew that the dagga was going to be used in court as exhibit.

Yesterday, Inspector Pearl Nkele told Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi that the accused is on the run because he is facing other criminal offences, adding that the matter will be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to consolidate it with his other matters. She stated that the police have embarked on a manhunt and that he is a suspect in another case of armed robbery.

Meanwhile, an alleged pastor from Zimbabwe who was freed for the offence of rape last week after his friend paid his accuser P1,800 for having sex with a prostitute admitted that he entered the country using an ungazetted point of entry when facts of the offence were read to him yesterday.

The accused, Charles Thembo admitted that he failed to produce a passport when the police arrested him at his place of abode at Selepa on August 28 after he was charged with one count of rape which was later withdrawn after his friend deposited money into the bank account of the prostitute. Thembo told the court that he came to Botswana to look for money to help his mother who has a heart problem.

“I am asking the court to forgive me. My mother is in a critical stage because of a heart problem. I want to help her. I am also pleading with the court to set a nearer date of mitigation and sentence so that I could go back home and help my mother,” Thembo said.

Inspector Goitsemang Ramatatome prayed with magistrate Kaveri Kapeko to further remand the accused in jail because he may escape once he is granted bail.

Kapeko postponed the matter to October 17 for mitigation and sentence.