Alleged diamond dealers� trial next year
Lebogang Baingapi | Wednesday December 7, 2016 15:07
According to the charge sheet, the diamonds weighed 14.14 carats and are worth P24,581.97. The accused were in court for setting of trial dates but Matebu was once again absent from court, something which prompted Chief Magistrate Gaedupe Makgatho to issue a warrant for his arrest.
The state prosecutor, Kefilwe Jeremia applied for the matter to be postponed to Tuesday in order to set trial dates in the presence of the substantive prosecutor in the matter.
Lekgoba said he was constrained to say anything about the trial dates because his attorney was attending another matter at the High Court.
On the other hand, Odirile said the postponement of the matter to Tuesday would greatly prejudice him because he was staying in Gaborone and he has no accommodation in Francistown.
Makgatho told Lekgoba to tell his attorney to appear in court for mention on May 17, 2017 and trial on June 12 and 13 next year otherwise the matter would continue with or without his attorney.
Meanwhile, Kelly Sivarai, (19) appeared before Makgatho to face two counts of arson and another charge of entering Botswana illegally.
The state alleges that Sivarai burnt houses belonging to Lucia Musindu and Tendai Kaura on November 28 in Tonota. Sivarai’s plea was reserved because investigations had just commenced. She told the court that she would engage an attorney to represent her.
The state contends that Sivarai burnt the houses of her fellow Zimbabwean counterparts following a heated argument about a missing P200 that Musindu and Kaura claim Sivarai stole at their rented places in Tonota. The duo allegedly beat Sivarai after she failed to produce the money.
In retaliation, Sivarai torched the houses destroying everything inside. Musindu and Kaura are also expected to appear in court this week to face charges of entering Botswana illegally. Sivarai would appear again in court on December 19.