ARRESTED! Solly Reikeletseng spends night in police cell
Former BNSC boss allegedly owes hotel and lodge bills in the region of P25, 000
Former Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) chairperson Solomon Reikeletseng spent the night in a holding cell this past Tuesday. This was confirmed by Botswana Police Services (BPS) spokesperson Dipheko Motube. At the time of writing, Motube could not say exactly what was to happen to Reikeletseng the next day (today).
Motube said that at the time of arresting Reikeletseng in Gaborone, they were acting on the warrant of arrest issued by court. The police will now present details of the matter before a judicial officer.
Reikeletseng handed himself to the police on Tuesday afternoon following an announcement on social media by the law officers that he was a wanted man in Maun.
The police said Reikeletseng was wanted for failure to pay hotel bills.
Reacting to the matter, many questioned why a man of Reikeletseng’s calibre was being exposed to public humiliation by the police for failure to pay hotel bills.
They complained that such conduct should be reserved for people who have committed ‘serious’ crimes.
Maun police station commander Chenamo Orateng said that no one was above the law, regardless of their status in society.
“Those who think we have something against Reikeletseng are wrong, if the police keep asking that you come to their office and you fail to do so on several occasions they put out a word that they be assisted. It has been happening with many other cases, there is nothing special about this one,” he said.
Orateng explained that this can be done with any other case reported to them. Even if one comes to their office complaining that they have been slapped and the police encounter difficulties in locating the accused, they will ask for help from the public.
The Maun station commander declined to reveal details of Reikeletseng’s crime. Meanwhile, it has been alleged by over four hotels and lodges in Maun that they are owed huge sums by Reikeletseng.
One hotel claimed that the former BNSC boss owes them money amounting to P16 000, another alleged a further P 7 800 while others mentioned figures roughly below P 2 000.
They expressed disappointment in the man saying as a public figure, they had expected better from him.
Things began falling apart for Reikeletseng back in 2019 when accusations of his owing hotel bills saw him prematurely resigning from his position as BNSC chairperson.
At the time, it was alleged that the then Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Tshekedi Khama was unimpressed and advised that Rikeletseng resigns from his position
Things would later worsen with Reikeletseng and his company, Itekanele Health Services Scheme, allegedly dragged before court for failing to pay debts. Some of his properties were allegedly attached by sheriffs.
The hotel bills issue has surfaced again but now a bit fiercer as it has landed the influential figure in a police holding cell. Efforts to contact Reikeletseng hit a snag as his phone rang unanswered. Neither did he respond to the WhatsApp text message sent to him which although delivered, was not blue-ticked by press time.