Notorious �Babyface� Nabbed
Pini Bothoko | Monday November 6, 2017 12:36
Police have confirmed the arrest of notorious Matshelo Motlhabakoko (26) in Molepolole, his home village, on Thursday after a massive manhunt.
Motlhabakoko has been evading police arrest for more than a week after he allegedly attempted to rob Funbex Bureau de Change at Molapo Crossing mall in Gaborone.
In an interview with The Monitor, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) director of crime intelligence Nunu Lesetedi said Motlhabakoko and co-accused, Mogomotsi Thupane and Phenyo Ramaphane attempted to steal money from Mary Okello of Funbex bureau de change and immediately before the attempted robbery they threatened her with a gun.
“We arrested him when he was on his way to meet his uncle. The duo had planned to meet and travel together to go and fetch firewood. Motlhabakoko is currently on bail pending cases for similar offences he had committed earlier on,” Lesetedi said.
Motlhabakoko was arrested together with Moreri Motseothata (32), Keorapetse Barakanye (31) and Joel Rannoba (32), who are also linked to a series of armed robberies and are currently on bail pending cases for similar offences.
Whilst on bail Motlhabakoko and his co-accused are linked to a series of armed robberies which occurred in Gaborone, at Metsimotlhabe, Mochudi, Sikwane, Molapowabojang to mention but a few in which they are alleged to have robbed supermarkets at gun point.
“Investigations are ongoing to establish the number of cases that the trio might have committed whilst on bail,” Lesetedi said. The police revealed that the trio entered Funbex bareau de change armed and demanded money but luckily they walked away empty handed thanks to the timely police intervention.
They are alleged to have escaped the crime scene with a Nissan Tiida vehicle, but later that day the police arrested Thupane and Ramaphane at Block 6 location in Gaborone hiding in the bush where a pistol, suspected to have been used in the alleged robbery, was retrieved.
Together with Thupane on October 21 at Gaborone West shopping complex, Motlhabakoko acting together in concert, unlawfully robbed one Tshepang Sethabi a cash amounting to P11,570 and beMOBILE P20 all belonging to Payless supermarket and immediately before such robbery they threatened her with a gun in order to overcome any resistance from her.