‘Karma’ time for Khama?
Mpho Mokwape | Monday April 25, 2022 06:00
For a while, the State has been dancing around Khama accusing him of threatening national security and even going after his close associates including the former spy chief, Isaac Kgosi.
The Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) that has had a back and forth tag of war with Khama had for quite sometime alleging that most of the firearms that he owns were obtained through dubious means while he is also accused of obtaining an arms and ammunition licence by false pretence. Now, following the numerous search and seizure at Khama's various plots, the the state has has through the courts finally summoned him for criminal charges and the charges follow an amended charge sheet for Kgosi who was late last year slapped with six charges on his own but his last appearance early this year in court the State made it clear that it would amend his charges and the charge sheet. Following the amendment, Khama, suspended police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgope and deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Victor Paledi joined Kgosi whose charges were changed from six to a staggering 33 counts.
The former president who is accused of unlawful possession of firearms is the second accused and stands accused among others of procuring firearms, unlawful possession and receiving stolen property. On count on 1, he is accused of receiving a Desert Eagle pistol from Kgosi being the State property, knowing or having reason that it was a stolen property while on count 2 Khama is accused of unlawful possession of the same pistol without a licence. The charge sheet goes on to accuse Khama on count 3 of procuring the registration of a firearm by false pretence.
He is also accused of providing false information to a licencing officer and the Central Arms Registry. “The accused person, Khama on or around November 24, 2011 in the application for permit to acquire firearm form 1 provided false information that the firearm was for official duty whilst knowing it was for personal use and that no such licencing was permissible, by withholding the name and address of the person or dealer from who he intended to acquire the firearm and last by falsely claiming that he did not possess any other firearms at the time of the application” reads the charge.
On count 4 Khama faces unlawful possession of firearm which is said to be a 9mm Jericho pistol without a licence issued in accordance with and under the Arms and Ammunition Act while in count 5 the former army general is accused of ownership of a firearm not registered in accordance with Arms Act. The count is still related to the 9mm Jericho pistol and still with the same pistol in count 6 he is accused of procuring the registration of a firearm by false pretence as he failed to disclose the firearms true origin and identity.
Unlawful possession of a firearm forms count 7 where he is accused of being in possession of a 9mm Sig Saucer pistol without a licence while in count 8 Khama is accused of ownership of the same pistol. “The accused person Khama from April 22, 2010 until present day owns a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol not registered in accordance with Arms and Ammunition Act,” states the charge. In count 9 he is accused of procuring the registration of a firearm by false pretence which is the same pistol from the latter count while on count 10 he is accused of unlawful possession of a special firearm. Furthermore, Khama is accused of having in his possession a 9mm Mini-uzi Automatic rifle whilst not being in the service of State in his capacity as such or authorised by the Minister in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act.
On count 11 he is accused of unlawful possession of a special firearm. “The accused person from January 10, 2017 until present day has in his personal possession a 7. 62*51 Fabrique Nationale Herstal Rifle, 1200 cartridges and sound suppressor for the same firearm whilst not being in the service of the State in his capacity as such or authorised by a Minister,” reads the charge sheet. Count 12 deals with the aiding and abetting unlawful possession of firearms as he is accused of on or around August 5, 2015 to have unlawfully possessed a firearm 9mm Jericho Semi- Automatic Parabellum pistol with a serial number erased without a licence issued and also by authorising Kgosi to retain and solicit a license for the said pistol when he did not have such powers in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act or otherwise.
The last count of 13 still tackles the aiding and abetting unlawful possession of a firearm where he is accused of on or about October 8, 2009 aided and abetted Isaac Kgosi being a person not exempted to unlawfully possess a firearm 9mm Parabellum pistol without a licence and also by allowing the said Kgosi to import and keep the said firearm and advising the Commissioner of police to licence the firearm when he had no power to do so in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act or otherwise. Meanwhile all the 13 charges are from mentioned firearms in the charge sheet being:
-Desert Eagle Pistol 50mm serial number 41201049 -Jericho 9mm Pistol serial number 46300850
-9mm Sig Sauer serial number U-861071
-9mm Mini-uzi Automatic Rifle serial number 00942
-7.62*51 Fabrique Nationale Herstal Rifle serial number H.018547
-9mm Jericho Semi-Automatic Parabellum Pistol with erased serial number
-9mm Parabellum Pistol serial number U857992
-1200 Catridges and Sound suppressors