Court waives bail for

Lebogang Mosikare
Correspondent | Wednesday January 9, 2013 00:00

According to the particulars of the case, Ookeditse Mabika (22), Odirile Batisani (19), Modise Mabiza (22) and Itumeleng Mmolawa (25) broke into a dwelling house and stole a jacket worth P450 on October 24 last year. After that, the four proceeded to steal a Nissan Pulsar worth P25,000 that was parked at the premises. They pleaded not guilty to the offences.

The first accused, Mabika, asked the court to change his bail conditions because he said he could not afford the P500 imposed on him for bail. 'I survive by selling vegetables,' he said. 'My vegetable business has collapsed because customers were not buying from me.'

Describing himself as an orphan, Mabika added that his relatives abandoned him when he asked them to help.They told him to sell his house, but could not do that because he would be left homeless, he said.Sufficiently persuaded, Senior Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalu granted him bail on condition that he attend court whenever required.

The fourth accused, Mmolawa, was refused bail because he had been a fugitive from justice for some time before he was eventually arrested. He had earlier told the court that he knew nothing about the charges he faced because he was in Mahalapye when the offences were committed.