19 Mar 2020

 The National Petroleum Fund (NPF) case in which 18 accused persons including Bakang Seretse, Isaac Kgosi and the Kebonang brothers are facing different charges among them money laundering has been transferred to the Extension 2 Magistrate Court.

During a hearing at the Broadhurst Magistrate Court March 19 , Magistrate Goodwill Makofi transferred the case to Extension 2’s Magistrate Kamogelo Mmesi for hearing and management.

The case is scheduled for next mention on March 24.

Among the accused in the case are former Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services director general Kgosi, Gaborone businessman Seretse, former cabinet minister, Sadique Kebonang, his twin brother and former high court judge Zein as well as former Department of Energy director Kenneth Kerekang.They are accused of involvement in the diverting of P250 million from NPF to a private asset management company, receiving, possessing and disposing of such funds.

The 18 are facing a litany of charges including abuse of office, giving false information to a person employed in the public service, theft and money laundering.

When the case commenced in 2017, it was handled by then Chief Regional Magistrate Christopher Gabanagae before he was transferred to the high court as judge.

His successor, Magistrate Masilo Mathaka, continued to handle the case before taking  leave of absence to pursue further studies.

The case was then managed by Magistrate Makofi, who at the previous hearing acceded to the prosecution’s request to admit Kgosi as the 18th accused person.

But owing to his confessed long personal relationship he had with Kgosi, Makofi then recused himself from the case.

At yesterday’s hearing, Makofi disclosed the identity of the new magistrate who would handle the matter and also excused Kerekang, Seretse and the Kebonang brothers from attending the March 24 hearing since they had another case before the high court the same day.

Prosecutor  Pascal Mandu furnished the defence with the new charge sheet that includes Kgosi explaining that “there is nothing materially different in the charge sheet apart from the introduction of the new accused person”.

The state now wants the case committed to the high court for full trial. Ends