BIRRO calls gov�t to provide lawyers to all accused persons

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday December 5, 2017 18:27

In an interview with Mmegi on Wednesday, Sejakgomo pointed that Legal Aid is provided only to murder accused persons, as they are said to be ‘big’ crimes whilst those of other crimes such as rape, theft and others are neglected.

He therefore appealed to the government to make a balance and provide all accused persons with lawyers so that they could be given fair trial.

“Some people end up being jailed for crimes they had not committed because they represent themselves before courts with little or no knowledge of the law.

As a result, some people end up behind bars when they are innocent.

When such people get out of jail, they are most likely to sue the government for millions which is more costly than if they could have been provided with lawyers from the on set,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sejakgomo said that they have recently visited the First Offenders' and Maximum Prisons in the company of the current Miss Botswana, Nicole Gaelebale, where the inmates complained that their cases take long to be prosecuted.

He pointed out that prisoners complained of lack of gym facilities in prisons.  He expressed a great concern over prisoners that commit crimes when on bail.  He said the government must take strict action against such offenders so that they could refrain from their evil deeds. He also called on the public to welcome the ex-convicts with open arms and love so that they do not go back to crime.

“Let's forgive them.

Let's love them, even though we don’t approve of their ways.

It is important to sit with them and try understand why they committed those crimes,” he said.

For her part, Gaelebale said she was privileged when she was invited to visit the inmates as she felt it was upon her to give them inspirational words.

She said she wanted them to know that there was a better tomorrow and have faith as they were forgiven for the crimes they might have committed.

“It is not up to us to judge those people. Let's welcome them back into the society and help build them into better people. We all make mistakes and I hope they learn from their mistakes and become better members of the society,” she said.