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The DCEC head of anti-money laundering unit said at the Village Magistrate’s court that he then questioned, the main partners in the law firms, Herbert Sikhakhane and Lyndon Mothusi on the suspect transactions. Sikhakhane and Mothusi are accused of obtaining money by false pretences from government.
Moloko said he studied client files and a statement by Sikhakhane, which an anti-corruption officer gave him.
In the client file of AES Hyper World, he found a letter of demand to the managing director of Multi Construction Engineering for a payment of over P10 million. When he perused the file, he found that Sikhakhane had taken instructions from a client, AES Hyper World and director Zolile Makunfani. However, Moloko said he was unable to find proof of indebtedness of Multi Construction to AES Hyper World in the file. He made further investigations and seized documents from Sikhakhane’s law firm. In his investigations, he discovered false cheque deposits reported as suspicious transactions by the bank. The cheques were deposited into Sikhakhane and Company trust account. The falsely printed cheques of P450,000 number 580655 and P420,000 number 580656 were made to Sikhakhapane and Company and not Sikhakhane and Company. The genuine cheques bearing similar numbers had been issued to Trans Africa, Seabelo Express, Mahube and Sons and Lesedi Supermarket and Butchery.
Moloko said that when questioned on cheque numbers 580656, 580655, 488704 and 488709, Sikhakhane mentioned Mothusi. He said Sikhakhane disclosed that he had issued a cheque of P170, 000 to Mothusi as a good gesture. This was because Mothusi gave him a good customer - the director of AES Hyper World, Zolile Makunfani. Moloko said investigations revealed that Multi Construction Engineering, AES Hyper World and Makunfani do not exist. He said Mothusi denied knowledge of the four cheques and opted not to answer anymore questions. Mothusi also said he did not know about the P170, 000 cheque issued in his name and he would have to consult with Sikhakhane why he wrote it. Moloko said they extended their investigations to look into the financial affairs of Mothusi and his law firm. He said their attention was drawn to three figures, which were higher in comparison to the deposits. The deposits in October 2003 reflected a sum of P286, 723. 48. In November 2003, there was a P285, 723.48 and P437, 890. The deposits were from two falsely printed cheques from Botswana Life Insurance and one falsely printed cheque from Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. He said DCEC seized a number of documents from Mothusi and Company, including client files of Zolile Makunfani, Mxolisi Kgasapane, the trust account book, business account book, ledger book and client file register. The trial continues.
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