Petty burglars pardoned after harrowing court ordeal

Francistown principal magistrate Thebeitsile Molalu shocked a fully packed court room last week Thursday when he ordered two Christmas house burglars to move from the dock and kneel down on the floor facing him and beg for forgiveness. He compelled the two confessed criminals to make a vow that they will never set foot again before a magistrate on any criminal related matter. The two accused persons Bakang Mpelegang and Tshiamo Solomon are alleged to have broken into the house of Tshepo Setlojane on Christmas day and made off with two cell phones whose value was not divulged before court.

Following the burglary, the complainant then managed through a tip-off to find her cell phones in the possession of the two accused persons who are her neighbours since childhood. When the accused arrived from Gerald Prisons on Thursday, they did not know that they were to be granted their New Year wish as the complainant in concert with the accused’s parents had reached an agreement to withdraw the case to save the youngsters’ time in jail since they are still students. When Setlojane took the witness box to withdraw the matter, Molalu castigated her for promoting crime before ordering the duo to step in front of him and kneel down as a sign of remorse.

“I want the two of you to promise this court that you will never be implicated in any criminal offence. You are still very young and if you persist with your habit of crime, your future will be doomed. You are very lucky to have committed crime on a person who knows you and your background. Next time you might not be lucky,” he said before withdrawing the matter. The complainant informed The Midweek Sun after the court case that she was moved by the fact that the accused are both students still awaiting their Form 3 results.