BATI E NTSHETSE MORAGO
Keipeile Mantrakis Stoffel (35) believes that bad luck is following him in his ongoing case in which he is accused of assaulting his girlfriend, Pearl Tuduetso Montsho, and ill-treating children.
This past Monday marked Stoffel’s first court appearance since being granted conditional bail last month.
His bail came after he spent two weeks in jail, following the circulation of a viral video that suggested that he was a woman-beater.
One of the strict bail conditions imposed on him was that he must always appear in court when required.
However, on Monday, the accused was a no-show.
The prosecution told the court they had no idea of Stoffel’s whereabouts, adding that his lawyer, Obonye Jonas, had also not communicated.
They further informed the court that Pearl was scheduled to undergo counselling this week and requested more time to gather all necessary evidence.
The prosecution then applied for a warrant of arrest, which Magistrate Mareledi Dipate granted.
A few minutes later, while another case was being heard in camera, Stoffel suddenly appeared at the door of Magistrate Dipate’s courtroom, where this reporter had been waiting.
He looked worried and disturbed, wearing black-and-white All-Star Converse shoes, his navy-blue trousers neatly ironed, and his shirt tucked in.
Without hesitation, Stoffel looked up at this reporter, his eyes silently demanding to know whether he could enter or not.
He almost collapsed when he was informed that he had missed his appearance, his case had been the first on the roll, and that a warrant of arrest had already been issued.
“Whaaat!” Stoffel exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
As a prosecutor himself, Stoffel knew exactly what that meant: a return to the cold, unforgiving walls of prison.
“What is the next mention date?” he asked, his voice seemingly trembling.
“January 19th,” The Midweek Sun reporter replied.
“Whaat? Jesus! Jesus!” Stoffel shouted in shock.
Realising what this meant, he muttered that it meant he would be spending Christmas behind bars.
When asked what happened, Stoffel explained that he had mistakenly thought the court started at 10:00 am, not 9:00 am, and that his lawyer, Jonas, was not representing him that day.
As the closed-door session dragged on, Stoffel paced in the court corridor. One minute he was walking up and down, the next he was squatting, his hands clutching his head. He appeared tormented, unsure whether to go inside or wait.
He feared the magistrate’s decision was already final.
“I am in deep trouble, bati e ntshetse morago. Yooh Jesus! Yooh! Yooh!” he kept repeating, his voice quivering with fear.
He looked desperately to this reporter for guidance, saying what scared him most was that he was also due to report at Lobatse Police Station that same day, part of his bail conditions.
“The moment I step into the police offices they will throw me in jail. They will not listen to any excuses,” he said.
He explained that he had met Pearl’s parents outside the court and greeted them.
“I asked them about the case, and they simply said it is done. I thought they were joking,” he said heavily.
The Midweek Sun then pressed further, asking how he manages, given that Pearl’s parents seemingly disapprove of him.
“Everything used to be fine. They used to come where we stayed until this whole saga started. Ke bati tota, e ntshetse morago. I am not sure if they recently saw that video or if they always knew about it. It is an old video,” he said.
Fortunately for him, court clerks advised Stoffel to locate the prosecutor and return together before the magistrate.
Without wasting a second, he dashed out of the courtroom, returning moments later with the prosecutor.
The prosecutor assured him that although the warrant of arrest had been issued, she would hold on to it, acknowledging that he had shown up and did not abscond.
“It would be malicious of me to ignore that,” she told him, adding that he must be present in court in January.
As he walked out of court, Stoffel flashed a little smile, relieved. He shared with this publication that he was not yet back at work, he is on a long, extended leave.
“I am so relieved. Bad luck is really following me,” he said.