The Voice (Botswana)

FREE FROM THE THREAT OF JAIL

- BY FRANCINAH BAAITSE

AFTER a year of stress, the North West Regional Educationa­l Officer’s ex-husband, Mmolaatshe­phe Letlhare, has been freed from a threatto-kill charge following the matter’s withdrawal before Maun Magistrate­s’ Court this week.

The 53-year-old sighed with relief on Monday morning, when court accepted his ex-wife, Veronica Mochotlhi’s decision to drop the case.

“As per the director’s consent, the case is withdrawn,” ruled Chief Magistrate, Thebeetsil­e Mulalo.

In a story that made front page news in The Voice back in August last year, Letlhare was facing one count of threatto-kill after allegedly threatenin­g to shoot his then wife should his efforts to bewitch her fail.

The warning was allegedly made after Mochotlhi reminded him of

her intention to seek a divorce via a Whatsapp message.

In response, Letlhare is said to have told her over the phone, “I will rather bewitch you and if I fail I will shoot you with a gun.”

The Kanye native was then arrested but later released on a P3,000 bail and two sureties who had to each pay the same amount.

Although Letlhare was only freed from the charge this week, Mochotlhi had a change of heart almost immediate

ly after registerin­g the complaint, putting it in writing a few weeks after the report.

Her letter was sent to Directorat­e of Public Prosecutio­ns to give guidance on how best to proceed. Over a year later, the director has finally given consent for the matter to be withdrawn.

At the time of the alleged conflict, the two already had a divorce case before Maun High Court, which has since been granted, bringing an end to their 20-year marriage.

 ?? ?? HAPPIER TIMES: The couple have since divorced
HAPPIER TIMES: The couple have since divorced

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