29 May 2017

Village magistrate Mompati Taolo has set June 7 as the date he will deliver judgement in a case where Kealeboga Mogale is accused of stealing P1.9 million.

The case before magistrate Taolo is that on 11 May 2012 the accused, then an employee of Brinks Global Services Botswana, stole  P1.9 million at Diamond Technology Park in Gaborone.

According to submissions presented to court, the accused was given the task of taking a consignment of bank notes to be exported at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKA) in Gaborone.

The consignment did not reach its intended destination, as it was never loaded into the aircraft.

After investigations, the accused was arrested and of P1 277 243 50 was recovered from Khumo Monyera, an accomplice of the accused.

The balance, P622 757 is being sought as compensation by Mogale’s erstwhile employer, Brinks Global Services Botswana.

In mitigation ahead of the sentencing, Mogale told the court that the balance of missing funds traceable to him only amounts to around P20 000, which he said he was willing to pay back.

Mogale informed the court that there was a different case also before the Village Magistrate Court of robbery at SSKA involving around P600 000 which he said was linked to the missing money in his case.

In recalling how the crime was committed, Mogale said he had submitted six bags containing the money to an Air Botswana official.

While at the airport, he received similarly coloured bags of imports, which he said got mixed up with the consignment intended for export.

Mogale said upon returning to his then employer’s offices did he realise that there had been a mix up, and that he got scared since he understood how strict the company rules were.

Fearing disciplinary action and possible dismissal, Mogale said he disposed of the bags of money into rubbish heap.

Later, Mogale stated that he was tempted to return the money.

“This was a genuine mistake at first, the flight was delayed, the import and export bags were of the same colour.

I only committed the offence after temptation,” Mogale said.

He urged the court to consider a few factors in mitigation of sentence.

He said he was a first offender who had pleaded guilty, and that he had not benefited from the crime as he handed over the bulk of the money to a former second accused who turned into a state witness.

The 34-year-old Mogale said he also has an elderly father and grandmother, as well as a child born only last month that he was taking care of through their only source of income; his father’s supermarket, which he runs. ENDS