The sentence was handed down by Broadhurst Magistrate Kofi Acquah-Dadzie on Friday.Magalela and two others, Tshoganetso Makhumalo and Ndumiso Tshabalala were arrested in 2006 for allegedly robbing First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) industrial branch in Gaborone of more than P800, 000 in broad daylight at gunpoint. The other two later turned state witnesses. Makhumalo was a University of Botswana student at the time of the crime. The police later recovered from the suspects P530, 000 of the money that was stolen.
Before reading the sentence on Friday, Magistrate Dadzie said armed robbery is one of the most disturbing crimes in the country and worldwide. Dadzie said the bank staff, who were the immediate victims in the crime, were subjected to humiliation, fear, disrespect and despair which cannot be overlooked when giving sentence. He added that the psychological trauma they suffered could also not be emphasized. He said above all large sums of money belonging to the bank and its customers were carried away by the accused.
