P2,500 FINE FOR TRIGGER-HAPPY TAJBHAI
After he was recently denied bail in the murder of a Molepolole taxi driver, Mohamed Sadiq Tajbhai was this week sentenced in another case of unlawful discharge of a firearm.
Tajbhai, who on the 29th of August at Extension 10, Gaborone, without reasonable cause, discharged a firearm in a manner likely to cause injury or danger to other persons, has been fined P2 500.
In his mitigation plea, the accused person’s attorney indicated that the 33-year-old Tajbhai from India has no previous conviction.
When delivering the sentence, Extension II Magistrate, Lentlhabetse Willie, said Tajbhai’s criminal conduct is comprehensive, however, the court should not lose sight of the hallowed principles of sentencing comprehensively.
The magistrate pointed out that he was mindful of the balancing exercise, embracing the nature of the offence, interests of the society and personal circumstances of the accused, which he carefully considered in order to arrive at an appropriate sentence.
“Generally, first offenders should, where possibly appropriate, be spared from a custodial sentence. In respect to the nature of this offence, any person convicted is liable to a fine not exceeding P5 000 and/or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or both. The seriousness of this case is more compounded by the fact that law enforcement officers were called to attend to a report that the accused was misbehaving at home. He told the police to leave his compound before he made the two gunshots and never cared about the risk he had presented to their lives,” said Willie
Magistrate Willie went on to say it is trite that society demands that offenders should be appropriately and adequately punished for the offences they have committed, lest it loses the trust reposed on the judiciary.
He therefore sentenced the accused to a fine of P2 500 payable immediately. if he were to default, the accused would be sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Magistrate Willie advised Tajbhai of his right to appeal the sentence if dissatisfied, within 14 days.
Meanwhile, in January, Tajbhai allegedly shot and killed a taxi driver, Ofitlhile Ofitlhile, in cold blood in Molepolole before burning him in his own house then setting the taxi alight. He is currently remanded in custody facing charges of murder, robbery and malicious damage to property.