It remains unclear whether Lesedi Molapisi, a convicted drug mule from Botswana, will be executed today. Molapidi was sentenced to death in May 2024 for smuggling over 3 kg of heroin in Bangladesh.

WAITING

Speaking on Radio Botswana, High Commissioner to India,

Gilbert Mangole, including Bangladesh and other South Asian countries officials, explained that a Bangladeshi appeals court is yet to set a court hearing date for Molapisi. Mangole clarified that contrary to some reports, Molapisi has not yet been executed. "There was an appeal before the court, and it was received. We are waiting for the date of the appeal hearing. We last checked on Molapisi in December; she was in good health, but she indicated that she was afraid," he said. He said that a delay in the hearing could take up to a year or more. "As the government, we keep on briefing Molapisi's family about the situation even though they have not yet managed to visit Molapisi. Besides the appeal, the Botswana government is doing all it can to resolve the situation and avoid execution."

BOTSWANA WANTS MOLAPISI TO COME HOME 

Mangole said they want to take the issue at a political and diplomatic level, and their President Duma Boko has also committed to making sure that Bangladesh pardons Molapisi. "We want to facilitate a meeting between Boko and the Bangladesh president," he said. Molapisi (30) was detained and arrested at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in January 2023. After receiving an anonymous tip-off, the airport customs officials intercepted Molapisi after she flew in from South Africa via Doha, Qatar. She reportedly denied having any illegal substances or items to declare. The airport officials proceeded to search her luggage and found over 3 kg of a heroin-like substance in her luggage. Last May, Molapisi was sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court for drug trafficking.