Barcelos robbers plead for revised bail conditions

Tumelo Mouwane | Tuesday January 31, 2017 16:27

 

They were granted conditional bail on December 13, 2016 but failed to meet the conditions. Tshepo Batshabane (22), Tshwanelo Tshimologo (34) and Thabo Dube (32) were arrested on August 15, 2016 during a shootout with the police at a roadblock in Lobatse. Dube was injured on the left hand and admitted at Princess Marina Hospital for four weeks.

The accused are alleged to have robbed Barcelos restaurant at Hillside Mall in Lobatse of cash amounting to P5,000.  The trio is also accused of robbing customers who were in the restaurant of their cell phones.

Before the restaurant attack, they are alleged to have robbed Amos Mugufo of his Toyota Corolla at gunpoint at BMC estates in Lobatse and allegedly used the same weapon in the Barcelos robbery before it was retrieved at Ipelegeng JSS the following day.

In his plea, Tshimologo said he and his relatives could not raise the bail amount.  “I plead with the court to review our bail conditions.

I was granted bail about a month ago but I am still languishing in prison because I don’t have money. If the court could consider granting me bail without me paying cash, I would be able to meet the conditions.

My sister is working for Ipelegeng and she has children; she cannot afford to pay for my bail,” Tshimologo said.

Briefing the court on case proceedings, the prosecutor, Sergeant Nfandiso Mbaakani of Woodhall police station said investigations were complete.

“The investigations docket has been closed. We are only waiting to send the case to the DPP for assessment of evidence and possible prosecution. I am also aware that the investigating officer was ordered to make an appearance before court in order to address some complaints raised by the accused,” he said.

One of the accused, Dube, had informed the court that police took his fingerprints without his consent and made him sign documents while he was unconscious at the ICU unit of the Princess Marina Hospital.

During an appearance on December 13, 2016 Dube asked magistrate Lebakeng Cele to order that the investigating officer give an account as to why that was done to him. In response Dipate said he would consider the accused persons’ plea on Friday.

He further instructed the police to avail the investigating officer to address claims raised by Dube.