The attorney representing Mothusi, Themba Joina, revealed yesterday that when he went to enquire about the case at the High Court the officers told him that they had never received the case from the magistrates' court. "When I went to the magistrates' court they said they had long taken it to the High court," Joina said yesterday.
He said that the matter needs to be resolved quickly for his client to decide his next move after the Law Society of Botswana (LSB) suspended him from practising as a lawyer. This has led to the closure of what was Francistown's vibrant law firm of many years. Joina expressed shock at news that his client was facing new charges of possession of drugs. The Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) police this week revealed that they had a confrontation with Mothusi at a house in Block Seven and subsequently they searched the house in which a substance suspected to be dagga was found.
Assistant Superintendent Bennetse Keakile of Sir Seretse Khama International Airport Police Station said that the green substance has been taken to the police forensic laboratory for analysis. "Once we have confirmed that the substance was dagga that's when we can lay formal charges against him," Keakile said.
Meanwhile, Joina said that if the reports were true it could further destroy Mothusi's future at a time when he needs to be cautious not to break the law. Mothusi's appeal is about a conviction fraud and obtaining by false pretences early last year. In the case that lasted for several years, he and fellow attorney Herbert Sikhakhane were charged with falsely obtaining over P800, 000 from Botswana Life Insurance Limited (BLIL) and Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) through fraudulent cheques. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment but has since appealed the matter to the High Court.
Before he could reflect on the conviction another charge was laid against him for fabricating evidence and bribing a prison warden. He was also convicted of the crime and slapped with an 18-month prison term wholly suspended for two years on condition he does not commit a similar offence. The appeal cases are scheduled for January 2010.
