Arrest warrant out for BPC artisan

Lindiwe Mozola | Wednesday May 17, 2017 09:22

 

The police said Casious Motaung, who is an artisan at BPC in Palapye, failed to attend Court even though he was privy to trial date.

Prosecutor, Sergeant Ditsapelo Emmanuel told the Court that all the witnesses were in court, except the accused who failed to attend for reasons known by him (Motaung).

“I tried calling him this morning to notify him about the trial, but he told me that he will not be able to attend since he was going somewhere,” the prosecutor said.

The Magistrate ordered Emmanuel to call the accused and order him to appear in Court within 15 minutes, failure of which would result in the arrest warrant issued against him.

Motaung could not successfully traced subsequently, which resulted in the warrant of arrest being issued against him.

“I will not entertain such behaviour in my Court. I have observed that here in Palapye people can just relax and not attend Court sessions,” the Magistrate said, visibly concerned.

He added: “After his arrest the accused should be jailed for seven days prior to setting up another trial date”.

Motaung is charged with failure to comply with a Court order issued against him on July 30, 2008. He was ordered to pay the mother of his child, Florah Masilo P500 per month from August 2008 until the child reaches the age of 18, which he (Motaung) failed to do.

His next appearance will be on May 23.

Meanwhile, Othusitse Sekgoropa who was recently charged with illegal possession of a Government trophy surprised the court when he said he did not understand why he had been charged with the offence because what was found in his possession was not a Government trophy.

According a charge sheet produced in Court, Sekgoropa was early this year found in possession of an elephant tusk weighing 735.5kg, valued at P1,299.95.

“I do not understand why I have been charged in Court because I was never found in possession of an elephant tusk.  I do not plead guilty to the offence,” he said.

Magistrate Kesego Alstadt, however, told the accused that this was not the time for him to defend himself, as he will do that during trial.

The accused represented himself. He will appear for a Case Management Conference later this month. The state was represented by Moses Serojane from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.