Public turns to mob justice

Following a series of violent crimes in the Gaborone West policing area, an incident of street robbery in Block 6 was met with mob justice on Monday.
Three men alleged to be among a list of the most wanted criminals in Gaborone, fell prey to an angry mob after they allegedly snatched a laptop from a pedestrian near GIPS in Block 6. The victim is said to have screamed for help and members of the public swiftly descended on the suspects with a variety of weapons. The station commander of Gaborone West Police Station Superintendent Bonnie Bareki confirmed that they arrested the three men who were badly assaulted by members of the public. "The three were rescued by police officers from Mogoditshane Police Station  following a report," he said.

Bareki warned members of the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands. "We support public arrest not violence because if a suspect dies during mob justice we will investigate and charge whoever will be responsible for the murder," he said. Bareki said the three men will be arraigned before the Village Magistrate Court for street robbery today. He added that they will investigate the case.
Interestingly, Bareki revealed that a man was assaulted by members of the public in Gaborone West Phase I, sustaining injuries to his legs after he and his colleagues forced their way into a certain woman's house. His colleague managed to flee unharmed. The injured man appeared in court yesterday. The attacks follow statements made by Gaborone West South MP Botsalo Ntuane and Molepolole Station Commander Andrew Bosilong calling on members of the public to start using violence against alleged criminals. (Mmegi online)