Makhwa granted bail
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday April 4, 2017 16:27
It is alleged that Makhwa killed Kagiso Itheeng by poisoning his alcohol.
The prosecution had last Thursday asked the Court to allow for them to have the Investigations Officer (IO) present in Court to advance reasons for denying Makhwa bail.
However, he told the Court yesterday that they no longer objected to the bail application.
Makhwa, who has denied the charge, is accused of causing the death of his long time friend Itheeng by poisoning him through the alcohol he offered him on March 6.
He has since told the Court that all he did was give Itheeng two beers and all of them were sealed.
Appearing before Magistrate Rosemary Khoti yesterday morning, the prosecution changed their initial intention to oppose Makhwa’s bail application.
Khoti granted Makhwa a conditional bail in that he binds himself with P2,000 cash, two sureties binding themselves with the same amount. He was also ordered to report to Thamaga Police Station fortnightly.
In his plea for bail, Makhwa said he wanted to run his bar and also be able to take his children to school.
“Also the condition at prison is bad, people smoke in there while some of us do not smoke.
It is also filthy and not good for one to stay in. The food is also bad. You are not given alternatives,” he said. Makhwa’s lawyer, Gabaikanngwe Kebalepile in his plea to have Makhwa released on bail said his client was innocent and was only behind bars because of jealousy.
“A politician and an employee of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) are the ones who reported the matter to the police on hearsay that was going on around the village,” he said last week.
He said his client should be freed as he has never been searched or questioned by the police following his arrest a fortnight ago.
He said Makhwa being 38 years old and owning a house and a business he was bound to have people being jealous of him for his achievements.
Kebalepile also said it was unfair for his client to be placed behind bars for the reason that he could be hurt by the public.
“In denying him bail, the prosecution stated that it was because they feared he could be attacked, but if that is the case, he can move to a different location,” he said.
The prosecution told the Court that investigations were ongoing and that the body has been exhumed and the postmortem has been conducted and they are awaiting results.
The matter resumes in June.