Criminal charges against former Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) Chief Executive Officer, Percy Sekgomanyane Raditladi, who resigned from the council recently, have been dropped.
Raditladi had been charged with two counts, ranging from indecent assault to abuse of office.?In an interview with The Telegraph on Monday, Raditladi’s lawyer, Kgosiitsile Ngakaagae of Ngakaagae and Mbikiwa Attorneys, also confirmed that charges against other two suspects who were charged together with Raditladi, the Director of Highway Tricks Phenyo Russell Ngakane, and Letsholo Mmereki, a police officer based at Gaborone West Police Station had also been withdrawn.
Ngakaagae explained that the state withdrew the charges citing insufficient evidence.
“They said the information they have gathered thus far is insufficient to sustain charges; they want to investigate further,” he said.┬á
Ngakaagae added that “they have left the door open and in the future they may reinstate the charges and we hope they don’t.” ?In count one, on or about 7th June 2013, at Phiring in Gaborone, Raditladi was said to have unlawfully and indecently assaulted Khumoetsile Johannes by holding his genitals (penis).?According to the charge sheet, in count two, on or about 19th July, in Gaborone, whilst a person employed in the Public Service, namely the BNSC as the Chief Executive Officer, in abuse of the authority of his office, knowingly and without lawful authority, hired a motor vehicle from Avis Car rental services, in the name of BNSC to run his personal errands; by giving the said motor vehicle to Highway Tricks, a company officering Private Investigating services to be used for the accused person’s personal errands which were to stalk one Khumoetsile Johannes.?In count three, Ngakane, Mmereki and another not before the court, on or about 18th July 2013, at Bokamoso Private Hospital Premises, acting together and in concert, entered into Bokamoso Private Hospital premises with intent to intimidate and or annoy Khumoetsile Johannes who lawfully resided in Bokamoso Hospital premises.?The three men had pleaded not guilty to the charges they were facing.?The state was represented by Chief Prosecution Counsel Mosweu Ditodi of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.?Raditladi quit his position as BNSC Chief.
In a statement, the council’s chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng, said Raditladi resigned due to ill-health. It later turned out it was because Raditladi was anticipating the charges.
Criminal charges withdrawn against ex-BNSC chief
