Ex-cop gets six months for P1.9m heist
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Thursday June 8, 2017 16:29
Mogale must count himself very lucky after 30 months were wholly suspended for three years on condition of him not committing offences related to theft and fraud.
The visibly remorseful ex-detective will thus serve six months or less in prison, depending on time already served.
The 34-year-old made headlines recently when police nabbed him, after he spent five years on the run prior to his conviction. Last month, he was convicted of stealing P1.9 million from his employer, Brinks Global Services Botswana on May 11, 2012 where he was employed as a senior crewman.
Only P1,277,243.50 was recovered from the accused. Mogale, who admitted his crime and was a first offender, told the court during mitigation that he was tempted by the devil.
Passing sentence yesterday, Village Magistrate Mompati Taolo ordered that the convict should compensate the complainant P622,757.50, which is the difference between the money stolen and that recovered.
He ruled that all the recovered money should be restored to its owners. Mogale could end up paying only P20,000 or so, if the prosecution links some of the goods worth over P600,000 recovered from Mogale and his former fellow accused. Taolo explained that he considered that the convict was a first offender who was not a hardened criminal.
He said that while it is necessary to consider the nature of offence as well as the interest of the society when passing sentence, the idea was not to punish individuals but rather to build.
The magistrate said that while the offence attracted a serious penalty, the court had to consider whether it was sentencing a hardened criminal or one who would not come back before court for a similar offence if given a second chance.
He said that while he accepted the convict’s mitigating point that he did not benefit from the robbery, he reminded Mogale that it was him who had taken the money to his fellow accused. Mogale’s fellow accused turned state witness in the matter.
“My understanding is that he says that there was no premeditation to commit the offence but I have to say that the accused could have owned up to his mistakes.
There is also no denying that the complainant has had to suffer inconveniences due to the accused’s actions,” Taolo said.Taolo said by virtue of his position as the senior crewman, the company had bestowed trust in Mogale to carry out his duties, and it was up to him to return the favour by being more responsible.