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Plot to Kill Kirby Unravelled |
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 Why It Was Aborted And How The Suspect Was Fingered
BY AUBREY LUTE
Judge Ian Kirby was to be assassinated by two men recruited in South Africa by a former top official. The amount of R1.2 million was given to a law firm in South Africa to pay the two would-be assassins through an individual who was connected to them, The Gazette is reliably informed.
In our previous reports we indicated that there was only one hitman, but we have since learnt that there were in fact two. Each was promised about P500 000.
According to our information the two men were told to go to Lobatse and ask where the Botswana High Court was. There they would kill a white judge in a simulated robbery where three women in the vicinity would also be shot to death.
The two would-be hit men went to the Cumberland Hotel expecting to see Judge Kirby but no judge came. They then went to the High Court the following day but instead of one white judge they saw three and did not know which one among them was Judge Kirby. There were also no women around. They abandoned their plans and went back to South Africa, hiding a pistol that was to be used in the assassination near a bridge in Botswana.
However while in South Africa they fought over a girl. One got so mad he demanded immediate payment and when the “paymaster” refused he tipped off the security officials in South Africa, who in turn tipped off the Botswana Police.
Last week The Gazette was informed that a suspect would soon appear in court in connection with an allegation of threat to kill.
It appears the suspect was fingered when the security officers in South Africa traced the money that was paid into the law firm to an international account in the United Kingdom - belonging to the suspect. It is understood that the law firm made two initial payments to the alleged hit men through their accounts in Johannesburg.
The law firm also transferred a portion of the money to Botswana – and the account was identified as belonging to the suspect.
Last November The Gazette interviewed Justice Kirby who confirmed, “I am given 24- hour protection by the police.”
He said the Police Commissioner had informed him about death threats against him and the matter was under full investigation. The Commissioner had told him that he had discussed the matter with the relevant authorities who had concluded that he should be given 24- hour police protection.
“I am in no better position to discuss the circumstances surrounding the death threats,” Kirby said.
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