Investigations in nightclub murder case complete
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday January 27, 2017 16:21
The police had initially charged Nicholas Itshekeleng, Gobusamang Mothibi, Batshabi Montsho, Tshepo Mokalare, Keolopile Moshotle, Ditiro Reboeleng, Oabile Dibobo, Tshepo Ntusa and Tshiamo Morolong with murder and robbery.
Yesterday the state prosecutor Inspector Selelo of the Botswana Police Service told the court that investigations in the matter are complete after some new developments emerged during the investigations.
The prosecutor said that investigations have revealed that Reboeleng, Moshotle, Ntusa and Morolong are the once responsible for the murder of Bogatsu while the rest will only be charged with robbery. “We intend to make changes to the charge sheet in the next court session,” she said.
The prosecutor suggested that the accused should be granted conditional bail. Selelo proposed that all the accused facing robbery charges should be given cash bail of P1,000 each. She said each one of the accused should also provide two sureties binding themselves with P1,000 each.
She further proposed a cash bail of P5,000 for each one of the suspects facing murder charge and should provide two sureties who are expected to bind themselves with P2,500 each. She proposed that the suspects should report at the Central Police Station in Gaborone once a week and should not fall under any reasonable suspicion of an offence. However, attorney Dumizweni Mthimkhulu representing Moshotle and Ntusa asked why the accused were being treated differently. He said that his clients have been handed stringent cash bail of P5,000. “The other accused have been granted favourable conditions while my clients are offered stringent conditions. Robbery is also a serious offence. Rather than cash bail, why not let them sign recognisance,” he said.
Lawyer Unoda Mack who is representing Morolong proposed that the cash bail should be replaced with recognisance. He said he also does not agree with the condition that the accused should not fall under any reasonable suspicion of an offence saying this could be used by the prosecution to revoke their bail at any time.
However, inspector Selelo responded that murder and robbery are not similar offences looking at the punishment they each attract.
Ruling on the bail application Magistrate Ntombizodwa Ncube confirmed and granted the bail conditions proposed by the prosecutor. She said the accused should return to court on February 8 so that the court could establish if they have been able to abide by the cash bail condition. She however extended the remand warrant of the all the accused till then.