18/08/2022
WITNESS RECOUNTS ARMED ROBBERY INCIDENT
Ms Thabiso Oodira (32), a prosecution witness has identified Mothusi Alfred Matomela and Ntholephi Elliot Ntshalintshali as the two men she saw at Turn Rite Mall and allegedly involved in an armed robbery on October 13, 2021.
Giving evidence at the ongoing G4S P2.3-million cash in transit armed robbery trial at Broadhurst Magistrate Court on Tuesday, she said on the said day between 10 and 11am when going to the Mall to purchase groceries, she saw a Toyota Fortuner packed behind a police van in the parking lot.
“A man alighted from the Fortuner and went to the driver’s side of the police van. Suddenly the Fortuner moved and parked at the front of the police van,” she said.
Ms Oodira said one of the men, whom she identified in court as (Matomela) dropped his buffer mask and walked towards the police van.
She said when she was by a nearby Auto Teller Machine (ATM), she heard a male voice instructing people to lie down and continued instructing with a language she was not familiar with.
“As I looked back at the police van, I saw a man pointing a gun at the police officer and instructing him to raise his hands.
At that point I realised that an armed robbery was about to happen.
I fled the scene and heard sound of gunshots,” said Ms Oodira.
She said with the assistance of a street vendor at a nearby bus stop, she borrowed a cellphone and managed to report the armed robbery incident to the police. She said while on a call with the police, the suspicious Toyota Fortuner fled the scene towards Gaborone.
“I managed to record its registration number and it was B 384 BFR,” she said.
She said Matomela was not holding any gun when he approached the police van.
She further revealed under cross examination that even though the alleged armed robbers were wearing face masks, she was not doubtful that she saw Matomela and Ntshalintshali.
Meanwhile, Manuel Galhardo Ovana (58), a South African national told court that his Toyota Fortuner used on the robbery went missing on September 1, 2021 around 645am at Germiston, South Africa after his wife, her sister and brother were hijacked by three unknown armed men.
He said a case of hijacking was reported at Germiston police station and a few months later he received a phone call from Botswana Police official, who identified himself at Superintendent Ntau with information that a vehicle suspected to be the one he had reported as missing was spotted in Botswana through the assistance of Interpol.
He said on November 25, 2021, he met with Supt Ntau at Mogoditshane Police Station, where he was called to identify the said vehicle.
“I had brought with me the vehicle registration certificate and the spare key.
The engine and chasis numbers of the car matched those in the registration certificate and the spare key was able to start the car,” he said.
Under cross examination by defence attorneys, Mr Ovana said he was not in a position to tell how the hijacking happened as he was not present and that he would not tell if the vehicle had changed hands several times after the hijacking.
“The only exchange of hands I can ascertain is the one that occurred during the hijacking.
I can also confirm that I had never met any of the accused persons.
I was shown four men at Mogoditshane Police Station alleged to have been found in possession of the vehicle and I was not able to see their faces clearly,” said Mr Ovana.
Another prosecution witness, Ms Lesego Joina (48), a Bulk Teller at First National Bank Botswana (FNBB), whose duties involves receiving and dispatching bulk cash, said on October 13, 2021, she received 21 bags of cash to be dispatched by Team B ATMs at SSKB, Four Ways, Tsolamosese, Turn Rite, Gabane and Nkoyaphiri.
She said her duty involved checking seals and batch numbers of the bulk cash bags before handing them to the cash in transit (CIT) Company, which on that day was G4S Security Company for delivery at respective ATMs for Team B.
After handing over the bulk cash to the CIT company, her other responsibility would be to contact ATM custodians, who were also FNBB employees to state the delivery route. She said the ATM custodians were responsible for loading the cash into the ATMs.
“The ATM deposits were to start at Turn Rite Mall, therefore I provided the CIT company with the route to follow. I did not know the amount of cash in the 21 bags.
My duty is to check and register the seal and batch numbers of the cash bags,” said Ms Joina.
Ms Joina said later that day, she learnt that the funds that were dispatched to be deposited at Team B ATMs were allegedly stolen in an armed robbery.
Matomela, Thapelo Lekobe, Mzwandile Mazibuko and Ntshalintshali are charged with armed robbery, unlawful possession of fire arm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of goods stolen outside the country.
On the first count of armed robbery, the four accused persons acting together and in consent, armed with pistols and rifles robbed G4S Security Company cash amounting to P2 310 000, an AK47 rifle and a pistol on October 13, 2021 at Turn Rite Mall, along Gabane road.
Mazibuko and Ntshalintshali, South African nationals are also facing another count of entering Botswana through an ungazetted point.
First and second accused persons (Matomela and Lekobe) are represented by Mr Olehile Manchwe, third and fourth accused (Mazibuko and Ntshalintshali) are represented by Mr Nkosana Ngwenya, while the prosecution is represented by Mr Farayi Mahwite.
The case is before Magistrate Goabaone Rammapodi–Lesedi. ends
MORE STORIES: https://dailynews.gov.bw/news-detail/68698
