Kalafatis case takes off

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Thursday March 18, 2010 00:00

 

The DPP has appointed Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Kabo Leinaeng to handle the case.

Kalafatis' lawyer, Attorney Dick Bayford told Mmegi that the DPP has been in contact with his legal team on the matter. Leinaeng is reported to have told Bayford sometime last week that the DPP is putting final touches on the case, which is almost ready for prosecution.

 Kalafatis is one of the suspects killed execution style at the hands of law enforcement officers during the past two years.The law enforcement agencies comprise the Botswana Police, Botswana Defence Force and Directorate on Intelligence and Security.

Kalafatis case brought to the open what came to be called extra-judicial killings meaning the murder of suspects at the hands of law enforcement officers.

The Kalafatis case was one of the most publicised cases as was the alleged suicide/ murder of Italy Setlampoloka who was found dead after being arrested by police officers. It is yet to be known how many security officers will be prosecuted in the Kalafatis matter.

Minister of Justice and Security, Ndelu Seretse late last year revealed to parliament that a total of 14 people have died at the hands of security forces since April 1, 2008.

During the official opening of the Legal year at the beginning of last month, the Attorney General, Athaliah Molokomme told the public that she has been informed that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) received at least four dockets relating to cases which involved the death of persons who came into contact with law enforcement agencies.

She added that DPP informed her that they (DPP) were in the final stages of assessing the evidence with respect to three of the cases.