04 May 2017

Mahalapye Magistrate, Game Yuyi has sentenced five people aged between 39 and 62 years man to 12 months imprisonment wholly suspended for two years on condition that they are not convicted of an offence involving dishonesty.  

A press release from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) says the accused persons, Pelonomi Mphitlhang, Maria Kegasitswe, Hilda Nthaga, Margaret John and Florence Malepa were accused of fraud and breach of trust by public officers, contrary to section 129 of the Penal Code (Cap 08:01), Laws of Botswana.

During trial, as per the release, it was discovered that the accused persons on the 4 December 2009 in Mahalapye, whilst employed  by the Department of Buildings and Engineering Service (DBES, in the discharge of their duty as public officers, acting together during public auction of public goods at the Department of Buildings and Engineering Services depot, committed a breach of trust affecting the public by setting some goods aside and making a false representation to the members of the public to the effect that the said goods were not for sale, while in fact such representation was false, and later auctioned the goods and shared the proceeds amongst themselves.

Mr Benlida Oaitse of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appeared for the state, while the accused persons were represented by Morris Ndawana of Ndawana and Associates, Mooketsi Segaise of  Segaise and Attorneys   and Unangoni Tema of Tema and Associates. ENDS