A 30-year-old man of Moeti ward in Maun has been remanded in custody by Principal Magistrate Gofaone Mosweu for allegedly murdering his girlfriend in Disaneng ward and later attempting to commit suicide.
The accused, Bathogeleng Phologolo, who is employed as a security guard at Security Systems, is alleged to have committed the murder on October 12, 2024 in Disaneng ward before fleeing the scene and returned to his job at Orange Botswana offices but later disappeared. Police apprehended him the following day, rescuing him from a suicide attempt after he was found hanging from a tree.
Appearing before Mosweu on Thursday, state prosecution opposed the accused person’s bail arguing that the matter was still fresh. Prosecution presented the case’s investigating officer (IO) Assistant Superintendent Jacob Modisaemang who pleaded for the accused person’s remand arguing that the accused person was suicidal and if released would commit suicide.
He further noted that the accused person who was on duty from 1800 hrs to 0600 left his work place around 1900hrs and allegedly murdered his girlfriend while in uniform and went back to work around at around 2000hrs.
Modisaemang said after the accused committed the murder he allegedly made a few calls to his close relatives and his friends informing them that he had committed a bad act, and that he was going to commit suicide.
He further noted that what shows that the accused person was serious about committing suicide was that he hung himself with a wire which broke. He then travelled a distance find another wire and hung himself and was saved by the police who were search for him.
“We found the accused person hanging by the neck on a tree, we realised that he was still alive and cut the wire and rushed him to the Letsholathebe II Memorial hospital where he was released on the 15th,” Modisaemang said.
He further pleaded for the accused person’s remand arguing that they are yet to collect statements from those he called after committing the offence and they are yet to recover what was used to murder the deceased.
Phologolo, however denied any knowledge of his girlfriend’s death, claiming he had last seen her the previous week. He pleaded for bail, arguing that he needed to return to work and assured the court he was not a flight risk. He also denied having any intention of committing suicide.
He further argued that he does not intend to commit suicide.
Phologolo will appear for status update on the 4th November 2024.
