22 Aug 2024

A 46-year-old man of Old Naledi in Gaborone has pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft and office break-in.Unicy Orlando was arraigned before Jwaneng Magistrate Court on Thursday for reinstatement of the cases after they had to be withdrawn with liberty to reinstate, owing to his absconding. 

On the first count, Unicy is accused of acting jointly with two others not before court and breaking into Acacia English Medium Pre-School office in Jwaneng with intent to steal on January 31, 2018. 

On count two, the accused persons reportedly proceeded to steal a laptop, laptop charger, back pack bag, camera lens, two cameras, two camera bags, camera charger, camera cord and projector valued at P22 325, being the property of Acacia English Medium Pre-School. 

He is also accused of acting jointly with his companions with a common purpose and stole drinks, chocolate sweets and coins worth P578 from the school tuck-shop, being the property of Acacia English Medium School, still on the same day. 

In opposing bail, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Lorato Chabaetsile of Jwaneng police told the court that the accused person was a flight risk and the case had to be withdrawn with liberty to reinstate after he failed to honour court dates. 

“I am pleading for the accused person to be remanded in custody until the matter is concluded because he is a flight risk. 

This case was initially registered in February 5, 2018 with all three accused persons present in court, but they later absconded until the case was withdrawn with liberty to reinstate. 

They were arrested and the case reinstated in May 2021 for the two accused persons because the other accused person is deceased. 

The trial was separated and the accused person before court did not turn up for continuation of trial on November 2, 2023 until the matter was withdrawn with liberty to reinstate again in June 2024,” she explained. 

Subsequently, she said Unicy was arrested last week at Broadhurst Magistrate Court, where he was appearing for another matter. 

She refuted allegations that the accused person had on several occasions communicated with the prosecution of his unavailability due to ill health. 

The case is scheduled for mention on August 29, while the accused person’s remand warrant was extended until finalisation of the matter.ENDS