Lunatic challenges presidential order

KEABETSWE NEWEL
Correspondent | Wednesday September 22, 2010 00:00

State prosecutor, Gasemotho Pitlagano, told the court that Gobe Kgosietsile (24) was sent to the Lobatse Mental Hospital by presidential order not because he was a suspect or a convict in any offence, but because he was mentally derailed and was unfit to roam the streets.

Pitlagano said Kgositsile was sent to the mental institution in accordance to Section 165 of the Criminal Procurement and Evidence Act, which allows a mentally unfit individual to be transferred to prison for violent behavior.

'It was however urgent to transfer Kgosietsile to prison since he was now a burden to the security guards and the nurses who served at the Mental Hospital,' said Pitlagano.

The prosecutor revealed to the court that complaints were received from the Hospital authorities that Kgosietsile was a violent person who even threatened escaping. 'Kgosietsile was giving the nurses a lot of trouble. He acts violently and they cannot handle him at the Hospital, he is a lunatic, even the security could not handle him,' said Pitlagano. However, when arguing for himself, Kgosietsile said that he was surprised to learn that the president can send someone to jail with no offence or criminal record.

He said that the prosecutor even threatened that he would do anything to make sure that he rots in prison, adding that Pitlagano personally wants him in prison.

'I humbly ask for bail, I promise the court to be the first to arrive in court on the due date that the court would set,' concluded Kgosietsile The magistrates court judge, Thebeetsile Mulalu, said that he does not need to see Kgosietsile in court every 14 days. He ordered that order be availed to him in six days.