BDF arsonist granted bail

Magistrate Dumisani Basupi last week Friday granted 33 year old Guidance and Counselling teacher at Pandagala Community Junior School in Tutume, Bonno Ikanyeng bail pending appeal.

Ikanyeng was convicted of a single count of arson in January following an incident in which she was accused of burning the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) barracks at Area S in Francistown on January 5th, 2013. Property valued at over P4.5 million which belonged to the government was reduced to ashes. Some of the property belonged to the soldiers who lived in the barracks.

She was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and ordered to pay P4 million as compensation to the state. Granting conditional bail, Basupi said that she should pay P2000 and provide two sureties who will both pay P1000. “You should report to the nearest police station in Tutume and never leave the place without consulting with Tutume Station Commander,” he said adding that Ikanyeng should surrender all her travelling documents to the Central Police Station in Francistown.

He also said that the 33 year old should ensure court attendance. Basupi said that he would provide reasons why he reached the conclusion in due course. He said if both defence and prosecution should write a letter if they want to know those reasons. He also said that in the next mention he should be updated on the appeal dates, “Otherwise I will take you off bail,” he threatened. He said the bail was specifically for her to deal with the appeal not to rest. Kabelo Gaonyadiwe is Ikanyeng’s attorney while Mompoloki Gaboiphiwe is the prosecutor in the matter.