Moswaane�s �Campaign Agent� Plunders His House
Staff Writer | Monday November 7, 2016 17:09
On Friday, the 27-year-old man who committed a series of crimes at Moswaane’s house in Monarch, Mooketsi Setlhare, said that he was influenced by alcohol to go and break and steal from the MP’s house after facts were read to him. Unremorseful and unapologetic of his actions, Setlhare told the court that he does not know what came into his mind that made him to end up committing offences at Moswaane’s residence. Setlhare surprised the public gallery when he said that he knew Moswaane very well since he was one of his campaign agents during the build-up to the 2014 general elections. He said: “I just found myself in Moswaane’s house. I committed all the offences while I was under the influence of alcohol.”
State prosecutor Thatayaone Tshekiso told Magistrate Kaveri Kapeko that Setlhare was a first time offender.
Tshekiso made a successful application for Moswaane to take stand and apply for compensation for goods that were not recovered from Setlhare. After taking oath, Moswaane told the court that he knew Setlhare “very well since he was a resident of Monarch.” Said Moswaane: “I know him very well as person who broke and stole in my house. He entered the house through the bedroom window and stole inside my house. My I-pad is missing and I apply that he pays for it. We once arrested him a few days after he broke into my house, but he managed to escape.”
“He gave the I-pad to his girlfriend who later sold it. I want this court to teach him that stealing other people’s properties is not good by handing him a stiffer sentence.
This guy is a hardcore criminal who should learn the hard way. He is a bus conductor by profession, but he only wants to steal,” said Moswaane, adding that he wants Setlhare to compensate him even after serving his jail term.
In mitigation, Setlhare prayed with the court to be lenient when sentencing him because he is taking care of his small child. “If I am given a non-custodial sentence, I would go and work as a bus conductor to raise money for the I-pad before April next year and then compensate the complainant,” said Setlhare.
Meanwhile, Setlhare had earlier on told the court to free his co-accused Mphakadzi Shihota in the matters he was implicated in because he knows nothing about what happened.
“I committed all these offences alone. Shihota was found with the Sony car speakers that I stole from Moswaane because I gave them to him as security so that he could borrow me money to go and buy nappies for my child,” said Setlhare. Tshekiso reiterated what Setlhare said, stating that she had being informed by the investigating officer that Shihota knows nothing about the offences.
The state alleged that unemployed Setlhare, also of Monarch broke and entered into Moswaane’s house on January 15. The state also alleged that Setlhare then proceeded to steal a Blackberry Classic worth P5,500, Blackberry Gold valued at P2,700 and Apple Ipad worth P7,000. Mooketsi did not waste the court’s precious time, readily admitting to have committed the two offences.
In the third count, the state alleged that Setlhare, together with Mphakadzi, in concert and common purpose, broke into Moswaane’s house on October 27.
The state also alleged that Setlhare and Shihota then proceeded to steal four Sonic car speakers worth P2,800, Nike sneakers worth P750 and a brown board valued at P250 from the controversial MP’s house on the same night.
Sentencing will be on November 8.