Soldier faces drunk driving charges

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Thursday September 2, 2010 00:00

The 33 year-old Mishingo Thapisa of Maun BDF Camp appeared before Selebi-Phikwe principal magistrate, Thato Mujaji this week.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges but the magistrate ruled that he has a case to answer. Thapisa chose to give the court an un-sworn testimony and said that he will call three witness who were present at the time of his arrest by Serule police last November.

He testified that he was stopped at Sese Veterinary Gate by the police who asked him to produce his driver's licence and to drive to a lay-by 50m away. He explained that after parking his vehicle, the police told him to bring everything he had because they were going to detain him. 'I was taken by surprise when I heard that I was going to be detained because I had not committed any offence. On the way, I kept asking myself what I could have done.  I just thought the police suspected me of something because I was once accused of murder before. I thought it was just one of their wrong arrests,' he said.

Thapisa said upon arrival at Serule Police Station, he was requested to provide breath specimen but he refused. He explained that he declined to give the specimen after police refused to allow him to take his medication. He said he did not have the strength to breath into the breathalyser and by the time he was requesting for his medicine, the police were busy pushing him into the holding cells.

He informed the court that he was detained for the night with no food or medication. Thapisa said upon his release the following day, the police brought his medication and food before shoving a charge sheet into his face. 'I did not understand the reasons of being charged.

The police thought I was drunk because I was sweating and my eyes were red. That (sweating and red eyes) was caused because I had delayed to take my medication not alcohol,' he explained.

The matter will continue on October 19 when the accused is expected to bring his witnesses. Thapisa is out on bail.Meanwhile, Thebe Leonard Maelo, 61 of Gobojango village in the Bobirwa Sub-District and Mooketsi Dube, 29 of Zimbabwe appeared in court to face charges of possession of dagga. The two were allegedly caught in possession of dagga weighing 273.4g, wrapped in a black plastic bag in Gobojango last month.

Dube was also charged with illegally entering the country at Mmanaana cattlepost. The two pleaded guilty to the charges. In his defence, Maelo told the court that Dube and his friends had hired him to transport them to Bobonong.

He said he was not aware they had dagga in their possession. Dube has been remanded in custody and Maelo is out on bail. The case continues.