A Botswana Defence Force (BDF) soldier was this week remanded in custody pending bail ruling after he allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend’s new lover.
Appearing before Molepolole Principal Magistrate Solomon Setshedi, 37-year-old Letlhogonolo Kobe, is said to have on March 13th, 2023 at Lekgwapheng ward, threatened Nico Saulo by uttering the words “lwa ntlwaela lona ke tsile go le bolaya ke etla ke ya go tsaya sengwe’’ meaning you take me for granted I am going to kill you, I will be back I’m going to collect something.
When asked to provide clarity on the charge, the police maintained that despite the apparent plural reference to his victims, Kobe was only threatening Saulo and not the disputed girlfriend.
When taking the stand earlier last Thursday during arraignment, the Investigating Officer (IO) Detective Sergeant Selelo Marole said on the morning of the incident, at around 6am the accused went to the victim’s place where he found him with the girlfriend.
Though Detective Sergeant Marole claimed Magdeline Lesego Otumile is Saulo’s girlfriend and ex-girlfriend to Kobe, the accused told the court that he was still in love with her.
“Magdeline is my girlfriend, Saulo is her cousin and they are in love, ‘ke utlwile ka pudi ya tsela gore ba a ratana, ‘I was alerted by someone that they are in love affair so I wanted to confirm and she ended up confessing that they are in love,” said the distressed Kobe after the magistrate asked him why he went to Saulo’s place.
The IO further revealed that Kobe was also being investigated for a common nuisance incident that occurred on January 2023 when he violated a July 2022 restraining that ordered him to stay away from Otumile.
“I oppose the IO’s application because it’s not part of this case. We’ve both visited each other after the restraining order was issued. She also came to my place at Thebephatswa and we continued our relationship despite the restraining order,” said the outspoken Kobe.
He pleaded with the court not to remand him on reasons that his job will be at risk and also that he has a health problem for which he attends regular check-ups at Thebephatswa. He further pleaded with the court to set conditions such that he distances himself from the witnesses.
Yesterday (Monday) Kobe brought his attorney Sesupo Masaka who argued that the charge sheet was vague, embarrassing and not communicating.
He said even the affidavit presented before court was addressing the issue of restraining order which is not part of the matter brought before court at the moment.
“Unless the IO said something different in court than what he presented in the affidavit, if that’s the case he was ambushing the accused. It’s high time the IOs correct their error. They don’t care about the accused persons’ rights as they only give them the affidavits when going inside the dock. As it is a written affidavit he was also to respond by writing,” argued Masaka further saying the liberty of an individual is very necessary.
The lawyer pleaded before the fully packed court that his client was a suitable bail candidate and that conditions may be applied such that since he stays at Thebephatshwa he should always inform the military police when going to Molepolole.
“The girlfriend has decided to have two men at the same time, something that could have been taken before customary court or resolved before the police,” concluded Masaka.
The bail ruling will be delivered this week Thursday.