South African drug dealer gets suspended sentence
Othusitse Khuwa | Tuesday February 21, 2017 14:45
The sentence was however suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit any offence in Botswana within five years.
In addition, Principal Magistrate Dumisane Basupi fined Ledwaba P5,000 payable within seven days failure to which his sentence would be activated. Said Basupi: “The accused is a first offender, a factor which works in his favour.
He has also pleaded guilty to the offence, which is a sign of remorse on his part and he did not waste the court’s time.” The circumstances in which the dagga was found, Basupi said, were amazing and strange. “The offence was craftily committed. I have no doubt that the offence was planned by someone who wanted to achieve a purpose. I also have no doubt that the accused is a drug dealer.
The accused has addressed me at length in his mitigation. I have taken note of his medical condition and that he has children that he is taking care of,” said Basupi.
Although the accused is of ill-health, Basupi said it is not an excuse for him to commit offences. “The problems of dagga need not be emphasised. Its effects are disturbing and harmful to society…The accused shall come to court on March 1 to check if he has paid the fine, failure to which his sentence shall be activated.”
The police nabbed the South African on December 11, 2016, at Thapama Hotel where he had parked his car.
He admitted to being unlawfully found in possession of dagga when he was brought to the court. The cannabis weighed close to 14 kilogrammes and was surreptitiously hidden in the various parts of his Renault car.