Fellow inmates want to poison me, prisoner claims

Tumelo Mouwane | Thursday July 20, 2017 16:03

 

Mogatusi has repeatedly asked the Magistrates’ Court here for bail saying his fellow inmates were threatening him with violence and death. He has been held in remand since last October, after allegedly killing his 29-year-old brother by punching him in the stomach after a short argument.

Yesterday, Mogatusi told Lobatse magistrate, Onkarabile Mokoni that inmates had tried to use a “black hair liquid” poison on him in order to end his life.

'My life is at risk in prison. I have told this court before that my life is threatened that side. Other inmates tried to poison me by putting the 'black hair liquid' concoction into water last time.

“This is why I am urging the court to take action and bail me as soon as possible,' he said.

Mogatusi’s attempts for bail have been denied after a social worker’s report indicated that his family would feel unsafe was he to be granted bail.

The prosecutor in the case, Sub Inspector Shadreck Naganeng of Goodhope police said Mogatusi’s file had been handed over to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for assessment of evidence. The prosecutor said the accused had previously been advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The case will mention again on August 1. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Oteng Setsiba of Magotlhwane village will spend more time in jail after he was told to direct himself to the High Court for bail. Setsiba is charged with raping two women between 2015 and 2016 at undisclosed venues and dates.

The state alleges that Setsiba then went on the run and was arrested last year. He has been denied bail on numerous occasions and last week. Last week, the accused applied for magistrate Mareledi Dipate to recuse himself from the case, saying since he felt the court was “unfair” to him. The case will return for mention on August 1.