07 Jun 2022

The absence of Judge Mokwadi Gabanagae led the High Court to reschedule judgement in a case involving Carter Morupisi, his wife Pinny and their company R7 Group Proprietary Limited to October 31 or any day before then. 

Sitting in for the substantive judge in Gaborone on Tuesday, Judge Michael Motlhabi informed the court that the judgement that was scheduled to be delivered yesterday had been postponed to the said date or any other day prior to the said date depending on the availability of Judge Gabanagae.

Judge Gabanagae was appointed Chairperson of the Delimitation Commission on May 13.

The case involves former Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) Morupisi, his wife, Pinny and R7 Group.

The first accused Carter is facing two counts of corruption and jointly charged with R7 Group and Pinny on another count of money laundering.

Particulars of the offence are that the first accused, while employed as Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) director, and holding the position of board chairperson for Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF), in abuse of his public office, corruptly signed a contract with Capital Management Botswana as private equity managers. 

It is alleged that on or about November 11, 2014 at or near Gaborone, without the final resolution of the BPOPF board, while the business of the board was on suspension by court order, Carter signed the alleged contract with CMB and in the process obtained valuable consideration for himself and his wife’s company R7 Group.

On the second account, Morupisi is accused of having, on or about May 15, 2017 at or near Gaborone, acting together and in consent with Pinny in her capacity as R7 Group director, received valuable consideration in the form of a gold Toyota Land Cruiser pickup valued at R630 988, 99.

On the count of money laundering, Carter and Pinny, together with R7 Group, are alleged to have on or about May 15, 2017 in Gaborone received and converted to their personal use, a Toyota Land Cruiser pickup bought from South Africa.

It is further alleged that the accused person received the vehicle while they knew or had reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that the said vehicle registered B587 BEW was derived or bought, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly from the commission of the offence.

Morupisi, R7 Group and Pinny are represented by Mr Busang Manewe of Bogopa, Manewe, Tobedza and Company while the prosecution team is led by Ms Priscilla Israel. ENDS