Police start probe in BDP car accident

CHAKALISA DUBE
Staff Writer | Thursday June 6, 2013 00:00

 

Lesetedi's cousin wrecked the party's Toyota Hilux van towards the end of March this year, after reportedly taking the car without his consent.  Lesetedi was authorised by the BDP to use the car.The incident happened in Serowe, Lesetedi's home village. Police delayed both investigations and opening a case against Lesetedi's cousin because he was said to be in hospital nursing serious injuries he sustained during the accident. He was recently released from hospital.'The investigations into the matter or opening a case against Lesetedi's cousin were delayed by the fact that he was still in hospital. He has since been released from hospital and investigations into the matter began on Tuesday when the leading investigating officer in the case took him to the scene of the accident.'We are yet to charge him with any offence. We will decide if we should charge him or not, depending on the details that will be availed to us during the investigations,' said Officer Commanding for Serowe District Senior Superintendent, Boikhutso Dintwa.

In April this year, officials at Tsholetsa House, the BDP headquarters, absolved Lesetedi of negligence and wrongdoing in the matter.'The party car was stolen by Lesetedi's cousin.  Lesetedi reported the matter to the police and to the party.  I have the police report and it clearly reflects that the car was stolen.  Lesetedi has been cleared of any wrongdoing and negligence by the party leadership because the car was taken without his rightful authorisation,' BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi told Mmegi in an interview at the time.Lesetedi himself also told this publication recently that the car was indeed used by his cousin without his consent.This is not the first accident involving a BDP vehicle that was involved in an accident while being driven by a person not authorised by the party.  A Toyota Fortuner, authorised for use by its former Executive Secretary, Thabo Masalila, late last year was reportedly involved in a road accident while being driven by a person not authorised by the party.  The incident is reportedly one of the reasons he was sacked Masalila from the party early this year.