Ndingililo Gaoswediwe
4 November 2009
Malfunctioning equipment at the forensic laboratory has stalled progress in a case in which five young Batswana are accused of unlawful possession of a habit-forming drug suspected to be cocaine.
Prosecutor Osefile Mmitseng of the Diamond and Narcotic Squad told the court that the state is still waiting for results.
He added that a technician from South Africa is expected to give a helping hand.
The accused were arrested on 22 August.
The suspects, all unemployed, are: David Kgalemang, 26, Lekgaba Patrick, 24, Mbongwe Terrance, 19, Badubi Phanankosi, 25, and 24-year-old Moganane Nonofo.
The accused persons are from the prestigious Minestone location in Francistown.
The charge sheet reads that the accused persons were arrested at Minestone in possession of seven plastic wrappings containing the suspected substance.
As the accused left the dock relatives and friends who occupied almost a quarter of the courtroom could be heard murmuring that the court has been wasting their time.
"This is just a waste of time," one woman said angrily.
Meanwhile, a 44-year-old man of Tonota is facing a single count of murder.
Alfred Koroni, a labourer at Ratledi Company, murdered one Zachariah Modisakeng on October 31.The court heard that investigations were still at an initial stage as the police are still to locate possible exhibits.The state counsel also announced that Koroni would be further remanded to protect his life, as the deceased's relatives might take the law into own hands.
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