Fake money 'gang of 11' busted
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday April 17, 2023 06:00
The accused appeared in court yesterday (Tuesday) to face one count of counterfeiting currency. According to the charge sheet, the accused, Opelo Joko, 31, Kopo Aaron, 25, Tapenta Chitupu, 25, Olerato Mosweu, 21, Benedict Zikhale, 36, Nchidzi Machola, 19, Mpaphi Smarts, 22, Revay Masike, 23, Mompoloki Gobutsemang, 27, Goitseone Galane, 24, and Prince Rabanyana, 23, acting together with common intent unlawfully reproduced a P200 banknote of serial number AR 1672699 in multiples of 200 being a legal tender note issued by the Bank of Botswana (BoB).
A total of 2,882 notes were confiscated on April 7 at Gerald Estate, a total amount of P576,400. Pleas in the matter were reserved and Prosecutor Ditshotlo Mpale called investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Andrew Moeti to give reasons why the accused should be remanded in custody pending investigation. Moeti told Magistrate Game Mooketsi that the charge the accused are facing was of national interest.
“I am dealing with people who managed to make their currency resembling that of the Republic of Botswana. The amount we have seized so far is over P500,000 and we are still in search of more notes that the accused have made.
This offence happened during the Easter Holidays when other relevant stakeholders who could help us to further our investigations were not available. "Such stakeholders include the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and BoB amongst others. We are still in search of the equipment that was used to make the counterfeit currency and we fear that if the accused are granted bail, they may tamper with our investigations,” said Moeti. There are chances, Moeti continued, that the police will arrest more people in connection with the matter. “We also have to remove the fake currency that is currently in circulation. We highly suspect that the amount that is currently in circulation is also high. The amount that is currently in circulation has negative effects on the economy of the country.
(Some of the ill effects that counterfeit money has on society are a reduction in the value of real money and an increase in prices (inflation) due to more money getting circulated in the economy – an unauthorised artificial increase in the money supply; a decrease in the acceptability of paper money; and losses when traders are not reimbursed for counterfeit money detected by banks, even if it is confiscated). "We, therefore, pray that the accused shall be further remanded in custody for an initial period of 14 days starting today. If not so, we fear that the accused may continue making more counterfeit money whilst on bail,” Moeti pleaded.
Asked if they had anything to say, all the accused persons save for Smarts said that they had nothing to say. Smarts asked Moeti why he was jointly charged with other accused persons because he did not know them and did not commit the offence. In response, Moeti told Smarts that since the investigation is at an initial stage, it will become clear while in progress if he (Smarts) has any part in the commission of the offence or not. Moeti added that if investigations show that Smarts was in no way involved in the commission of the offence, then he will be exonerated. Magistrate Game Mooketsi ruled in favour of the state concerning the bail application.
She said that since the issue was of national interest, it was prudent that the police allow for investigations in the case to continue before any bail application for the accused can be considered. The accused are due in court on May 2 for a status update.