Cop sues govt for P1m over unlawful arrest

Lebogang Mosikare | Wednesday January 14, 2015 16:23

 

Her partially burnt body was found dumped on the outskirts of Francistown, a few kilometres east of the city.

In her statutory notice to sue dated November 25, 2014, Nnewe’s attorney Shatiso Nlebgwa stated that his client was arrested by Kutlwano police officers on February 5 in 2014.

“My client was later released on February 17 in 2014 on bail by the Francistown Magistrate court. My client was charged with murder and attended several mentions until the charges against her were dropped on October 2, 2014 due to lack of evidence against her,” reads the notice.

The notice continues: “The arrest and detention of my client was unlawful in that there were no reasonable grounds to suspect that she had committed an offence. Furthermore, my client’s prosecution was malicious in that there were no reasonable and probable causes to support the charges.”

The plaintiff has instructed her attorneys to demand, “as we hereby do, payment of P1 million being general charges for unlawful arrest, detention and malicious prosecution and legal costs in the sum of P2,500 the notice further states.”

It concludes: “Should your office not comply with our client’s demand within 30 days from date of receipt hereof, then we shall seek proper redress from the high court and seek costs on a larger scale.”

In a letter dated January 8, 2015, the Attorney General (AG), representing the state in the matter, acknowledged receipt of the notice to sue. “Please be advised that we are in the process of sourcing instructions from the relevant government department. Therefore, we shall advise you of our client’s position in due course,” reads the response from the AG.

Before charges against Nnewe were dropped, the case had triggered a media frenzy, which attracted full public galleries whenever the couple appeared in court. At one point the case was moved to Masunga after the state feared for the safety of the accused. It was at this court that the two lovebirds were subsequently granted bail.