Corpun file 24110

The Voice, Francistown, 25 May 2012

Chief's son convicted of theft

Escapes prison sentence as jails are full

By Daniel Chida

LUCKY: Kabelo Seemeko

Son of Etsha 6 Chief Joseph Seemeko was this week arraigned before Maun Customary Court facing a single count of theft.

Kabelo Seemeko, 23 an employee of Sefalana Cash and Carry wholesalers recently stole six bottles of perfumes worth P89.70. He did not waste any time as he pleaded guilty and agreed to whatever was said in court.

He however asked the court to be lenient with him saying he has a four-year old child to look after. He also asked this reporter not to publish the story as it was going to shame him and his family in Etsha.

Kabelo is said to have stolen the perfumes towards knocking off time and was arrested by alert shop security personnel.

He was given five strokes on bare buttocks as his sentence.

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Still in the same court one Bongani Mkhwanazi of Boseja ward was also given five strokes for stealing a 750ml bottle of Omega Espado Tequila at the same wholesale.

The 23-year old told the court that he did not deliberately steal the alcohol but failed to say what lead him to commit the crime.

Court President Charles Letsholathebe told the two accused persons that he wanted to send them to prison but was recently told that the two prisons in Maun are full.

"You are lucky, if it was not that the prisons are full, I could be sending you there now," he said.

Copyright © 2012 The Voice. All rights reserved.

Corpun file 24109

The Voice, Francistown, 25 May 2012

Habitual criminal awaits sentence

By Chenjenali Baraedi

CONVICT: Dipelaelo

A criminal with 10 previous convictions was yet again found guilty of raping a 13-year-old minor at Dukwi village in 2008.

Diketso Dipelaelo, 30 of Botshabelo ward was on Monday this week sent to High Court for sentencing after a Francistown magistrate Siziba Sijabuliso convicted him of raping his primary school going sister's playmate.

The convict who has a crime record ranging from theft, burglary, stock theft and assault committed between 2000 -2004 is said to have lured the little girl together with his sister to put up in a tent which he used as his bedroom at Dukwi village.

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In the middle of the night while his sister was fast asleep Dipelaelo raped her friend.

Pleading for mercy before he was convicted for molesting the girl, Dipelaelo who had earlier on pleaded not guilty to the offence, asked the court to backdate his sentence from the day he was thrown behind bars after committing the crime.

"I have been rooting in prison for ages, so I humble ask this honourable court to consider back dating my sentence to the time I was first thrown behind bars," said Dipelaelo who is now waiting for his sentence.

Oteng Selalame from Dukwi Police prosecuted.

DIPELAELO'S CRIME RECORD

Year                            Crime                           Sentence
2000                            Theft                             Three strokes
2002                            Assault                         Two strokes
2002                            Theft                              Five strokes
2002                            Theft                              P50 or two months
2002                            Theft                              Three months
2002                            Burglary/theft           Three strokes and six months
2004                            Assault                          Three strokes
2004                            Assault                          Four strokes
2004                            Burglary                      Nine months
2004                            Theft                              Four strokes

Copyright © 2012 The Voice. All rights reserved.