Three convicts Alakanani Kiba, Victor Tachipula and Thabo Sello who were sentenced to eight years imprisonment early this year by the Francistown Magistrate Court for impersonating DIS agents and swindling money from an Indian businessman, on Friday pleaded with Francistown High Court Judge, Zibani Makhwade to grant them bail pending appeal.
According to court documents on the 11th of February 2012 the three accused persons, falsely represented themselves as DIS officers and arrested Pankajkumar Shar an Indian businessman who owns a Warehouse in Mathangwane village and obtained P6 200 from him. The trio had demanded to know how he earned government tenders and accused him of corruption.
It is alleged that the trio told the businessman that they were from the DIS and arrested him. They charged him for acquiring tenders through corrupt means. They even threatened him saying that they have information that he is working with one Lebogang who was also in their custody during the day.
They took the businessman to Francistown and when they reached Mathangwane village they then demanded him to pay them P6 200 which he did. They released him and he became suspicious and then reported the matter to the police.
Police investigations were carried out and the three were arrested in Francistown on the 12th of March 2012
They pleaded guilty to the first count of false representation.
Appearing before Francistown High Court Judge, Makhwade on Friday only one of the accused persons, Victor Tachipula had made a formal bail pending appeal application. The Judge however ordered that they should all make formal applications for him to consider their applications.
They are expected to come to court in August. They are not represented while Moffat Dick from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) is prosecuting.
