Sunday, May 28, 2023

Botswana seeks to extradite South African national to Argentina

A South African national who is wanted in Argentina for drugs related crimes was denied bail in Botswana on Friday after the prosecution argued that they were still seeking documents from Argentina to extradite her back to Argentina.

The South Africa national, Nomathemba Rossetta, was arrested by Botswana Police with the assistance of INTERPOL through their red alert notice last year.

When Rossetta appeared before Magistrate Cele Motlaleng, the Directorate of Public Prosecution argued that they were still in the process of getting extradition documents from Argentina to extradite the alleged fugitive back to Argentina where she is allegedly wanted for drug related crimes.   

The DPP Prosecutor, Priscilla Israel, informed the court that Rossetta was arrested while in transit in Botswana to South Africa on a Kenyan Airways flight.

 Israel asked the court to remand Rossetta in custody pending the arrival of extradition  documents that were being delayed  because they were going through diplomatic channels.

Israel noted that Rossetta also admitted that she was incarcerated in Turkey for drug related crimes.

Israel added that upon enquiring  from Turkey about the fugitive, the Turkish government informed them that Rossetta was arrested in Turkey for possession of 751,3 grams of heroin which were recovered and seized from her body and her digestive system.

 However, the Defence Lawyer, Friday Leburu, opposed the state application to remand the fugitive in jail stating that Botswana had no extradition treaties with Argentina.

Leburu opposed the state application to produce a communication that the state alleged was from Argentina.

 In his argument, Leburu told the court that he was opposing the letter alleged to be from Argentina to be filed in court because it had no authentication.

 Magistrate Motlaleng remanded Rossetta in custody pending the extradition documents from Agentina  that the DPP are expected to produce in court in her next appearance.  

Motlaleng, however, noted that a communiqu├® that was produced by the DPP could be allowed to be produced and be part of the court records even though they are not authenticated.

RELATED STORIES

Read this week's paper