02 Jul 2018

Francistown Magistrate has sentenced 56-year-old Billy Mabote to 18 months imprisonment wholly suspended on condition  that he is not convicted of any offence involving giving false information during the time of suspension.

Mabote was facing one count of giving false information to a person  employed in the public service, contrary to Section 131(a) of the Penal Code (Cap 08:01), laws of Botswana.

During trial, it was discovered that on the 13th January 13, 2009 in Francistown, he gave Violet Matshaba, employed in the public service by the Department of Supplies as a Store Keeper 1, information to the effect that the indirect solar tanks of 200 litres each, which the Department of Building and Engineering Services had ordered from Mansivic Construction and Civil Works had been supplied.

The accused knew  that the information was likely to cause Matshaba to certify and pass a Government Purchase Order for payment to Masovic Construction and Civil Works, which act Matshaba ought not to have done had the true state of facts been known to her.

Dumisani Marapo of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions appeared for the state while the accused was represented by Goabaone Tiego of Tiego Attorneys. ENDS