More remand time for �serial fraudster�

Othusitse Khuwa | Thursday March 2, 2017 18:14

 

The ‘fraudster’, Dimakatso Nlondiwa, 35, yesterday appeared in court for ruling in his bail application.

However, Principal Magistrate Dumisane Basupi told Nlondiwa that he found it appropriate to call the investigating officer on March 21 to testify on whether he reckons Nlondiwa should be granted bail.

Basupi said he would be in a right position to deliver the ruling only after the investigating officer has given his testimony, which would be measured against what Nlondiwa would say.

Nlondiwa was recently arrested by the police in Maun after he failed to appear in court on numerous occasions since 2015.

The state prosecutor Mothusi Meshack previously told Magistrate Kaveri Kapeko that he was handling Nlondiwa’s forgery and uttering false documents cases, while the police are also handling similar cases.

“The accused last appeared in court in connection with these matters in early 2015. He violated some of his bail conditions. One of his bail conditions stipulated that he should appear in court as and when required and that he should not commit similar offences while on bail but he did not honour the conditions. We apply that he be remanded in custody until his matters are finalised because he is not a trustworthy person,” said Meshack.

Meshack added that Nlondiwa has similar matters pending before Basupi that he is prosecuting.

In response, Nlondiwa told the court that he was sick hence his non-appearance in court, adding that he told police to “bring the matters to court but they did not listen to me”.

Kapeko revoked the accused’s bail as applied for by the prosecution.

He also ordered that the P2,000 that Nlondiwa paid, as one of his bail conditions should be forfeited to the state.

Nlondiwa is due in court on June 8 for trial. After Nlondiwa appeared before Kapeko, he then appeared before Basupi to face a count of uttering a false document and another charge of obtaining by false pretences.

Assistant Superintendent Gaamangwe Kebinakgabo then told the court that investigations into the matters are complete.

Kebinakgabo said, “We apply that the accused should be remanded in custody.

He has been evading the police for sometime until he was arrested in Maun recently. He is also facing similar allegations in Lobatse, Ghanzi and Gaborone. His actions show that he has a propensity of committing similar offences while on bail. He may not attend trial if he is granted bail…”