Bulelwa Hoala

The family of Lesedi Molapisi (30), the Motswana woman who has been sentenced to hanging in Bangladesh has denied rumours that she has been executed.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika from Serowe village in Botswana on Sunday, Lesedi’s father, Goitsemodimo Molapisi, confirmed that his daughter is still alive in a Bangladeshi prison and cannot be executed while her appeal is being processed.
Molapisi said the news of Lesedi’s execution trending on social media is fake and the people spreading it are being insensitive to the family.
“This really is devastating. It has affected us a lot because we are still working around the clock to assist my daughter together with the government of Botswana,” he said.
Molapisi said he speaks to Lesedi every Friday through her lawyer in Bangladesh, confirming that Lesedi is currently suffering from depression.
“I speak to Lesedi every Friday through her lawyer in Bangladesh. Even last Friday we talked. She’s still healthy. The problem is that she’s having depression because she has been in prison for more than three years.”
When asked for clarity around Lesedi’s arrest, Molapisi said the last time he saw Lesedi was in January 2022 after she had visited them in Satau village in December. He said the family was shocked to see reports about her arrest in the media.
Molapisi added that his relationship with his daughter is good and he has never known her to be a “naughty girl”.
According to reports, Lesedi’s lawyers have filed an appeal and are waiting for a response from the judges.
The Botswana government has also made a great effort to prevent Lesedi’s execution, with President Duma Boko assisting at his level best despite the country’s practice of capital punishment.
Meanwhile, Molapisi has urged the public to stop speculating and assist the family by praying for Lesedi adding that he is hopeful that she will be released.
“We appeal to all the people who are using all these news media platforms to assist us to pray for my daughter. It is like we have taken part in the offence that has been committed by my daughter and that is not right. I’m not happy as to how they are commenting on the social media.
There is indication that they want to hear that my daughter has been executed. I’m praying day and night my daughter will be released. I’m hopeful.”
Lesedi was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Bangladesh in 2022 after she was caught travelling with 3.145kg of heroin.
News 24 reports that she had arrived in Bangladesh on a Qatar Airways flight from South Africa, which travelled via Doha.
She was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Bangladesh on Monday, 27 May 2024.
Watch the rest of the interview below:
The family of Botswana national Lesedi Molapisi sentenced to death in Bangladesh for trafficking about 3kg of heroin says reports that she was executed are false. Lesedi’s father, Goitsemodimo Molapisi, says they are hopeful she will be released back to the country alive.… pic.twitter.com/ZXGSGm6le8
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 23, 2025
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