08 Dec 2019

Gaborone High Court on December 5 set February 20 as a new date for arguing an application for exclusion from the ongoing National Petroleum Fund (NPF) money laundering case of Sadique and Zein Kebonang. 

Their lawyer, Unoda Mack, has filed an application for the duo to be detached from the case as there was no substantiated case against them. 

The application had been set for review on November 6 with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Attorney General’s Chambers (AG), cited as respondents in the case, to present their arguments. However, the respondents did not file their arguments as instructed by the court at its last sitting on October 7. 

One of the three judges hearing the case, Justice Abednigo Tafa, expressed his displeasure at the development, especially since DPP was not represented while Ms Oteng Thamuku of AG had stated she was not fully instructed on the status of the application. The other judges are Christopher Gabanagae and Matlhogonolo Phuthego. 

Justice Tafa said the respondents were given enough time to file their responses, but failed to do so, adding that attorneys must abide by dates set by the court. 

He therefore instructed the applicants and respondents to file their heads of argument on January 30 and February 10 respectively. 

“I do not want a situation where heads of arguments are filed on the eve of the day set for arguing,” he said, further stressing that each party must be given ample time to go through the other’s application and amend where necessary before the day set for arguments. 

The applicants were represented by Mr Lesley Malema under the instruction of Mr Mack. ends