27 Apr 2017

The Extension II Magistrate Court in Gaborone has referred the P3.5 million fraud case to Gaborone Regional Magistrate Court (South) for its next appearance which has been scheduled for July 24, 2017.
The decision was taken on April 26 after the prosecution added three more accused in addition to the existing eight and also amended the charge sheet. The new accused are Gaborone-based lawyer, Letlhogonolo Makgane, Mooketsi Molefe, an office manager at Cable Engineering and Motlalepula Molefe, who is conveyancing secretary at Ramalepa Attorneys.   

However, since the prosecutor was not opposed to bail, Extension II Magistrate, Ms Ntombizodwa Ncube granted the trio a P5 000 bail bond and ordered them to produce sureties who will also bind themselves with the same amount.  
The, which made headlines earlier this year, is a case involving a Zimbabwean gardener, Bhekizwe Nkomazana, who allegedly concealed his long time employer’s death from his family and in the process swindling him of millions of Pula.
In the new charge sheet, the state alleges that Nkomazana, Makgane, Billy Molefe, Motlalepula Molefe, on or about February 5, 2016 at or near Senamela Sekga Attorneys in Gaborone acting together and in concert, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of P3.5 million from Leonisa Investments (Pty) Ltd duly represented by Benny Thomas by falsely  pretending that they have been lawfully authorised to sell and dispose an immovable property being lot number 3032 situated at Extension II belonging to the late Mr Solomon Tlhapane, when in fact and in truth they did not have such lawful authority from the said Tlhapane as he was not in the right state of mind at the time of the said transaction.   

On the second count, the state alleges that Nkomazana and another not before the court on or about September 19, 2016 acting together and in concert, with the intent to defraud obtained the sum of P600 000 from Tebogo Koketso by purporting to have sold and passed ownership through a fraudulent Title Deed number MA634/2016 for a ploughing field located at Ruele lands in the Bakgatla Tribal Territory, which representation was false in that the owner of the property,  Tlhapane did not pass ownership as he was late. In the third count of hindering a burial of a dead body, the accused Nkomazana and Ketshephile Lempehu, his girlfriend, between August 09, 2016 and November 20, 2016 at Tlokweng acting together and in concert, without lawful excuse and whilst being under a duty to cause the dead body of Tlhapane to be buried failed to perform such duty. 

 
On the fourth count of giving false information to a person employed in the public service, the accused Lempehu on or about September 1, 2016 at Tlokweng Boarder Post gave false information in the form of a declaration made to Aeaname Relaeng, being a person employed in the public service, effecting that she was a daughter to the late Tlhapane thereby causing the said Relaeng to allow the body of Tlhapane to enter Botswana through Tlokweng Border gate.
Other charges include bribing officials from National Registration Office and to obtain National Identity (Omang) and a birth certificate and also bribing officials from Department of Road Transport and safety to obtain a Botswana driving license. He also obtained a Botswana passport fraudulently.
Meanwhile, all other accused are on bail, while Nkomazana is in custody. ENDS