Khama’s Phenyo Segokgo’s political career hits associate a cul- de- sac fears for his life
DIS links Shadrack Baaitse’s vehicle to suspect in Kumakwane P5 million heist Baaitse fears DIS plans to eliminate him under guise of ‘ mistaken identity’ or ‘ wrongful arrest’
Businessman and former President Ian Khama’s associate Apostle Shadrack Baaitse is a man fearing for his life. This comes after an encounter with law enforcement officers in the central district last week when the motor vehicle he was driving was allegedly linked to one of the suspects in the Kumakwane P5 million heist.
This publication has learnt that after being questioned about a certain ‘ Bojalwa’ who was reportedly seen using the same motor vehicle in Serowe and was involved in the Security Systems Kumakwane armed robbery, Baaitse made a report to the police fearing that he might become a victim of mistaken identity in a whole lot of conspiracies.
He has also through his lawyers written to Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe asking for protection and for the matter regarding his motor vehicle to be investigated comprehensively.
Baaitse fears that there could be a motive to approach his vehicle with maximum fire force where it would later be claimed to be a mistaken identity or there is a ploy to embarrass him by wrongful arrest. According to sources at Serowe Police Station, Baaitse reported the matter after meeting with two plain clothes law enforcement officers.
In a statement deposed to the police, Baaitse said on the 4th of November 2020 in the evening at Mokolojwane Ward in Serowe while driving from Mogorosi village he was approached by two Botswana Police officers in plain clothes who called him in for questioning.“According to Kago Molatlhegi, a Botswana Police Officer who was accompanied by another officer they were reliably informed that the vehicle I was driving being a Toyota Land cruiser ZX black in colour was being driven by a certain Bojalwa who is implicated or wanted for a Kumakwane armed heist. “I must confirm that I do not know any Bojalwa nor do I have any idea why my vehicle was linked to Bojalwa or any person who has been part of such an armed robbery or heist.
“The officers told me that a report came from Gaborone that indeed Bojalwa is in Serowe using the motor vehicle I am driving and therefore they need me to identify myself and tell them about Bojalwa’s whereabouts,” said Baaitse in a police statement. He said he told the officers that he does not know such a person. According to Baaitse after indicating that he has not even lent any stranger his vehicle the officers then made a phone call to their superior in Gaborone and told their superior, “madam the vehicle that we actually have here is driven by Shadrack Baaitse and not Bojalwa.
“The officers made a record of my details and left me stating if there is anything else they will get back to me. Given my current and previous experience with the law enforcement agents since 17th September 2018 after being questioned by Directorate of Intelligence and Security ( DIS) for over four ( 4) hours for unfounded allegations, and further information that the DIS was looking for me and intending to arrest me and the DIS claims I have fled the country and sometimes claiming that a friend of mine has hidden me in his farm somewhere, for what I do not know and that the DIS will arrest me upon landing in Botswana, I then contacted my DIS sources in Gaborone and Palapye,” he revealed. He said that the three ( 3) very reliable sources in the DIS told him that indeed information was passed to Botswana Police Crime Intelligence that the vehicle he was driving is currently used by Bojalwa in Serowe. The sources he said, were also confused by the whole thing as the police had indicated that Bojalwa is in South Africa and not Botswana.
“My DIS sources also cautioned me not to
The officers made a record of my details and left me stating if there is anything else they will get back to me.
drive at night since it is very dangerous for me to drive at night. My sources informed me that this is a deliberate misinformation as I know what it means what could possibly happen given the fact that Bojalwa is considered armed and dangerous.
“It is with this background that the sources said the false information was deliberately given to the Botswana Police Crime Intelligence with two possible motives, either to confront my vehicle with maximum fire force that may later result in mistaken identity or to embarrass me with wrongful arrest pending investigations,” he told the police in a statement. Baaitse who also owns Prevailing Securities said given this information and the background of his experience and even allegations levelled against him by some supposedly DIS operatives or the organisation which some he has personally reported to Director General Peter Magosi, even though he decided not to act nor give him feedback, “I find my life under serious threat.” He said he fears for his life and that of his family. In a letter written to Makgophe by Oduetse Legal Practice representing Baaitse, the law firm says the correspondence is necessitated by client’s previous experiences with law enforcement agencies especially the DIS.“Moreover, client advises that he caught wind of information that the DIS was on his trail seeking to effect his arrest on claims that he has fled the country and that client is keeping some of former President Khama’s properties and or assets, which is obviously false. Client advises that he is reliably informed that the DIS was quite aware that the said suspect ( Bojalwa) is currently in South Africa and not Serowe, Botswana as alleged. “Therefore, it is questionable how he would suddenly be in Serowe, let alone be linked to client or his motor vehicle,” said Gaone Oduetse, Managing Partner at Oduetse Legal Practice in the letter received by the Police Head office Tuesday morning this week. Oduetse stated in the letter that the said misinformation between the police and the DIS is a deliberate ploy to either confront client’s motor vehicle with maximum fire force that may later be explained as a mistaken identity upon his demise or embarrass him with wrongful arrest pending investigation.“In summation, client as a concerned citizen hereby implores upon your good office to fully investigate these allegations and allay his fears that his life and that of his family members are not in danger. “The reason is that being falsely associated and linked to armed and dangerous suspect automatically puts his life in danger. Client is quite aware that the mandate of the police is to, inter alia, protect life, property and to prevent and detect crime.
“He thus, craves for your intervention and protection in light of the foregoing. Client is at the mercy of your honourable and esteemed office for his protection since he believes his life is under threat.
“We humbly request a detailed and comprehensive investigation within seven ( 7) days from date of receipt of this correspondence into this matter and further assure client of his safety and that of his family members,” stated that Oduetse