Maun Chief Magistrate Theebetsile Mulalu has issued a warrant of arrest against Brian Mokwena who is the first accused person in a case in which he and two others are alleged to have broken into Midas Spares shop in November last year and made away with goods worth P20 000.
The accused persons are alleged to have on the 3rd November 2022, acting jointly together, broken into the shop and stole goods which included among them, a variety of Bondi-blu sun glasses, a variety of Willard car batteries, a variety of Bata safari shoes, sound hoover, power base, 6 by 9 cable set, 21 socket pieces and 3 homemade toiletry bags, all worth of P20 000.
The trio, Brian Mokwena, Teddy Malepe, Atlarelang Maupo were then arrested on the following day. Malepe then reportedly escaped from police custody but he was later arrested in March this year following a post on the Botswana Police Service Facebook page. Mokwena and Moupo were granted bail in December 2022.
Mulalu this week issued a warrant of arrested against Mokwena after he failed to attend court for two consecutive times without any explanation. He indicated that the accused person had gone against his bail condition which ordered him to attend all his court sittings without fail.
Mokwena previously pleaded to be given bail citing that he is a mechanic and on his arrest he left his clients’ cars unattended, adding that they may end up being stolen or having their parts stolen.
“Staying in prison will attract a more prison sentence for me because I have left my customers’ cars unattended and if it happens they get stolen the owners will bring me to court and if I fail to pay I will be taken to prison,” Mokwena pleaded.
Meanwhile Mulalu has since granted the second accused person (Malepe) bail on condition that he pays P2000 cash and provides two sureties who will bind themselves each with P1000.He indicated that though the accused person escaped from custody he has a right to liberty pending trial.
Mulalu indicated that the accused person will only be released after making the bail payment and his two sureties. He was ordered to not interact with state witnesses and temper with investigations. Malepe was also ordered to attend every court sitting without fail.
