A 45 year old Zimbabwean man, Cosmos Muganhiri has pleaded not guilty in a case in which he is accused of unlawful possession of dagga.
The accused person who is employed as a driver at a logistics company in Mogoditshane was reportedly busted by the Botswana police service at the Makalamabedi veterinary gate on the 29th January 2022 around 09:30 while boarding a PATMO bus which was heading to Gaborone from Maun.
It is alleged that two transparent plastic sachets each containing a greenish substance suspected to be dagga were found inside Muganhiri’s bag during a stop, question and search routine exercise conducted on the bus and passengers.
On recovering the transparent plastic, Muganhiri was arrested and the substance in question was confiscated by the police to be used as an exhibit.
The accused person was since granted bail on condition that he surrenders his travel documents to the state as well as to attend all court proceedings without fail. Since he was found in possession of a less volume of the suspected dagga substance the state did not object his bail.
When giving an update on the matter this week, investigating office Sergant Mmoloki Boshati revealed that investigations on the matter are complete and the suspected green substance has been tested from the forensics laboratories and results have been delivered.
For his part, the accused told court that his plea of not guilty is supported by a number of reasons which he intends to present before court when given an opportunity. Muganhiri also requested the State to provide him with alternative documentations he can provide on requests to officers as he moves across the country. The accused person will appear again on the 10th May 2022 for case management conference.
Meanwhile a 21 year old man of Botshabelo Ward was on Wednesday arraigned before the Maun Magistrate’s Court for a single count of murder.
The suspect is alleged to have stabbed to death a 26 year old man of the same ward at Kings’ Bar in Botshabelo this past Sunday at around 00;30hours. According to Maun Police Station Commander Superintendent Chenamo Orateng, the suspect stabbed the deceased on the neck following a misunderstanding between the two.
The deceased was then rushed to Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital where he was then certified dead by medical doctors. Orateng said investigations on the matter are still ongoing adding that they are also awaiting a post mortem report of the deceased.
