No bail for Kabo Sebele

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday February 12, 2010 00:00

 

Specially Nominated councillor, Kabo, Kgosimotse Sebele, and Motlhabatsatsi Nkonyane appeared before Magistrate Moguni charged with a single count of threatening the life of magistrate Dumisane Terrence Basupi, the magistrate who gave a four-year jail sentence to Kgosikwena Sebele, after finding him guilty of stock theft. The convicted Sebele is a relative of the accused. Kabo is facing another charge of reckless driving. His co-accused, the elderly duo of Nkonyane and Kgosimotse have been given bail with the condition that they do not come within a 10km radius of Basupi’s workplace or residence, unless they are required to appear in court.

The duo were further barred from trailing or stalking the complainant and required to report at Molepolole police station once a week.

In his ruling, Moguni said he released Kgosimotse and Nkonyane as they were frail looking and could not actually carry out the threat. He however, said the conditions set would ensure that the accused would not carry out the alleged threats.

In relation to Kabo, Mugoni said he (Kabo) was still young and energetic hence the fear that the state expressed might be genuine. He therefore remanded him in custody for a further 14 days to allow the state to carry out their preliminary investigations.

He added that this is not a small case as it carries a minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum of 10 years. Moguni further pointed out that the seriousness of the matter is complicated by the fact that the threat was directed at a judicial officer, being the magistrate.  The case will come for mention on February 25, where the court will review the bail application for Kabo. In presenting the case, the state argues that on February 8, 2010 the three accused persons at or near Taj filling station in Molepolole, acting jointly in concert without lawful excuse threatened to kill Dumisane Terrence Basupi by making a gesture he understood to mean, “I will kill you.”  On count two, which is applicable to Kabo alone, the state alleges that Kabo on the same day along Goo-Thato tarred road near Taj filling station in Molepole drove a motor vehicle in a manner that endangered other road users.

Attorney Dick Bayford is representing the three accused, while Counsel Kgosietsile Ngakaagae is standing in for the state.