Convict in P2m robbery awaits sentence

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday May 29, 2017 16:35

 

The 34-year-old who has been on the run for the past five years, appeared before the Village Magistrate Mompati Taolo convicted of stealing P1.9 million from his employer Brinks Global Services on May 11, 2012 where he was a senior crewman. Mogale, who has admitted to his crime and admitted to Court  as first offender by the prosecution, told the Court during mitigation that he was tempted by the devil and is now a born-again Christian who fears crime.

The seemingly close to tears former police officer said he is a first offender who did not waste the Court ’s time when he was charged. He said he had no intentions of stealing and given another chance, he would not repeat the same mistake.

“I didn’t benefit anything from committing the offence. I handed the money to the second accused- turned-state witness. The money would have been recovered. There was no intention to steal. It was a genuine mistake as I reasonably believed we had submitted all the six bags to the airplane agent,” he said. Mogale told the Court  that it was only on their way to the office, that he realised that there is another bag of bank notes left in the car, but had not noticed because everything was done in a hurry. He said fearing to lose his job, he then threw the money into a rubbish bin.

“The thinking is, I wanted to steal but I was confused. It was later on that I got tempted to come back for the money,” he added. He said that following the incident, he was dismissed from work by his employer and has never been able to get any job in the past five years.

“I have suffered because I couldn’t get any job because of this pending case. It has been an emotional torture. I was outside prison but in spiritual prison. My soul never rested. I have stayed five months, 176 days in prison and this has been a tough time for me. I am a born-again Christian. I have repented Your Worship and learnt my lesson. The prison that I am at could take 40 inmates but we are 96, so it is a bad situation for me as I was born asthmatic.”

He further pleaded with the Court  for leniency saying that he was recently blessed with a baby boy who needs his care, as he could not survive on milk only.  He said that if given a suspended sentence, he would be able to compensate Brinks Global Services and be able to take care of his ailing father and grandfather whom he is staying with. He said his sick father has tasked him with managing his supermarket, which has remained their only source of income.  “I pray for mercy and lenience and not to be given custodial sentence. I pray for a suspended sentence so I can integrate into the society and be a role model that one could live a crime-free successful life. I would never be involved in criminal activities again. Give me a second chance,” he said. Meanwhile, a representative of the Brinks Global Services, Mabatane Sepakela applied to the Court that they are seeking compensation of P622,757.50, which is a balance of money not recovered from the accused. He said that only P1,277,243.50 was recovered.

However, Mogale countered that there is another matter investigated at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport where money and properties whose value is over P600 000.00 has been recovered. He said that investigations have linked the money and properties to the missing money; therefore the remaining balance is likely to be around P20 000.

Attorney Ernest Mosate represented the State while the accused conducted his own defence. The matter returns on June 7, 2017 for sentencing.