Former president Lt. Gen. Ian Khama has backed Ditshwanelo’s narrative that Lesedi Molapisi was acquitted. Speaking to this publication on Wednesday, Khama said he was informed of Molapisi’s acquittal on July 28, 2026.
Khama’s account aligns with a detailed statement released by Ditshwanelo- The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, which says Molapisi was cleared by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh after judges found that prosecutors had failed to prove the case against her. Minister of Foreign Affairs Phenyo Butale was nowhere to be found as the truth ca,e to light. Butale had given media interviews through which the government attempted to take credit for Molapisi’s release.
Butale had given media interviews through which the government attempted to take credit for Molapisi’s release.
According to Ditshwanelo, Molapisi travelled to Bangladesh in January 2022 to purchase garments for resale in Botswana after connecting with the managing director of a garment factory who had invited her to the country. Upon arrival in Dhaka, customs officials searched her luggage and later alleged that they had discovered 3.145 kilograms of heroin concealed in her checked baggage. Ditshwanelo says Molapisi was not shown the alleged drugs and was arrested before being incarcerated in Kashimpur Women’s Jail.
The human rights organisation states that a charge sheet was only submitted seven months after her arrest and that charges were formally framed nearly a year later. While she was initially charged under both the Special Powers Act of 1974 and the Narcotics Control Act of 2018, the Sessions Court reportedly dropped the Special Powers Act charges for lack of grounds.
On May 27, 2024, Molapisi was sentenced to death by the 8th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge in Dhaka.
Ditshwanelo says the appeal against that sentence was heard by Bangladesh’s High Court Division between July 16 and July 20 this year. On July 28, a bench comprising Justice Md. Kamrul Hossain Molla and Justice Foisal Hasan Arif overturned the conviction and acquitted Molapisi. The organisation cited the court judgment, which stated that “the prosecution miserably failed to prove the charge” against Molapisi. The court rejected the death reference, set aside the conviction and sentence imposed in 2024, allowed both the criminal and jail appeals, and declared that Molapisi “is not found guilty and is acquitted accordingly.”
The government announced on September 1 that Molapisi had been released following diplomatic efforts and thanked Bangladesh for granting her clemency. The Bangladesh High Commission similarly referred to diplomatic engagements and humanitarian appeals made on her behalf.
Ditshwanelo also highlighted support provided through international human rights networks. In October 2025, its executive director Dr Alice Mogwe, acting in her capacity as President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), visited Bangladesh and met government officials. She also visited Molapisi in prison. Human rights lawyer Advocate Mohammad Ahsanuzzaman later became involved in monitoring the case and was part of the legal team that represented Molapisi during her successful appeal.
The claims by Khama and Ditshwanelo stand in contrast to statements issued by the Botswana government and the Bangladesh High Commission in Pretoria.
The government announced on September 1 that Molapisi had been released following diplomatic efforts and thanked Bangladesh for granting her clemency. The Bangladesh High Commission similarly referred to diplomatic engagements and humanitarian appeals made on her behalf.
However, neither statement referred to the July 28 acquittal by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Conversely, Ditshwanelo’s account attributes Molapisi’s freedom to a successful appeal that overturned her conviction and found her not guilty of the charges against her.
