Masisi relatives' tender war gets uglier
Sharon Mathala | Tuesday December 13, 2022 06:00
The Broadhurst Police Station is investigating the case after Masisi’s nephew, Olebile Pilane was reported by his former business partner who is now partners with his aunt and Masisi’s sister, Boitumelo Mmutle-Phadi.
The case of stealing by servant was reported to the police on November 30. According to documents seen by The Monitor, the police have summoned Pilane to explain some of the transactions in which his then partners believe money was misused.
“This office is investigating a case of stealing by servant in which Mr Li Huashi of Pre-Com Construction reported that his former employee Botswana citizen male, Olebile Joseph Pilane was given an amount of P100,000 which was supposed to be paid to you for the service you rendered for his company (Pre-Com Construction).
It came out that he only paid P60,000,” reads the investigations file leaked to this publication.
The latest development follows a series of court battles over the same company by the President’s relatives. The company which the relatives own won a joint bid with Tianyuan Construction (Tianyuan) for the construction of the Goodhope Sub-District Water Supply Scheme 2.2 contract for P549,699 654.70. The battle over the government tender has now exposed the first family and has even dragged both the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) into the mess.
This came after Masisi’s nephew felt he was muscled out of the lucrative deal. Out of rage, in court papers, Pilane exposed how through the same company he is now accused of stealing from, was instructed to pay the BDP about five percent of the money from the government tender. According to Masisi’s nephew, after refusing to give BDP some of his tender money, his aunt threatened him.
“Upon receipt of the letter, the fourth defendant became livid and threatened the plaintiff with violence and harassment from some state security agents. “The fourth defendant instructed the plaintiff to attend a meeting concerning the affairs of the first defendant at a house in Phakalane on October 19, 2021.” Pilane also said he complied and attended the meeting with his aunts.
At the said meeting, the fourth defendant presented a draft statement for signing by the plaintiff indicating his resignation as a director and shareholder of the first defendant. When the plaintiff indicated his refusal to sign the said draft statement, the fourth defendant and Mmutle (Masisi’s sister) uttered words to the effect that some state security agents (DIS) will ensure that he resigns from the first defendant. Bowing to pressure, Pilane signed the draft statement of said resignation.
The case is currently before the High Court of Botswana and is expected to open a can of worms once the trial begins. In the recent matter, The Monitor source revealed that the police case is a way of scaring Pilane into dropping the case.
The source is of the view that the police case, is a way of some of the first family members who benefited from the deal, who Pilane is now exposing, using state power to silence him (Pilane).
Efforts to reach the Broadhurst Police Station commander were futile at the time of going to press whilst Pilane referred this reporter to his lawyers for comment.