P130k for missing P500m
Mpho Mokwape | Monday December 5, 2022 06:00
He was convicted on two counts of corruption and one count of money laundering all resulting from the alleged misappropriation of P500 million belonging to the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF).
His conviction was based only on evidence of purchasing a Toyota Land Cruiser valued at P630,988.99, which was alleged to have been bought for his wife's company with money from BPOPF while he was still its Board chairman.
On Wednesday after Morupisi had previously cried during mitigation about already being punished since he was humiliated and disgraced and that jail will not be in his best interest as old person, all eyes were set on Gaborone High Court judge Chris Gabanagae to deliver sentence.
After explaining to the fully packed court room that the charges were of serious nature therefore the sentence should serve as a reflection, it seemed a lot of people expected a harsher punishment than what was read.
"Corruption and money laundering are serious charges that should not be taken lightly and punishment should be a reflection of the same charges," Gabanagae said.
Not long after, he concluded that Morupisi receive a jail term of two years wholly suspended for one of corruption and pay P130 000 being a collective of count two of corruption and count three of money laundering.
"Count one you are sentenced two years imprisonment suspended for 3 years, count two you are fined P50 000. 00 or five years imprisonment if you default and for count two you are fined P80 000. 00 or 8 years jail term if you default. The Land Cruiser is forfeited to the state", he read.
As jubilant as Morupisi and family were about the sentence, a lot can be said about the attending public that seemingly was left with mixed feelings about the sentence.
While the former PSP's family was busy hugging him and crying a lot were asking if they have heard the judge well, seemed the fully packed court came expecting a bit of action, maybe seeing Morupisi on handcuffs.
One could tell that Morupisi through his demeanor was relieved to learn that the judge heard his cries and that he was not going to jail but rather given a non custodial sentence.
Meanwhile, the prosecution on the other hand could be heard saying that Morupisi should pay money within 24 hours or be ready to go to jail. Clearly they expected Morupisi to taste jail but it didn’t happen.
Both parties had to go back to get clarity on the time-frame as to when Morupisi should have paid the amount since the judge had not clearly stated that.