Broke DPP can't afford printing papers
Larona Makhaiza | Wednesday September 17, 2025 06:37
Jiajin was recently extradited to Botswana from Tanzania for allegedly swindling Batswana of millions in cash through a scam. Appearing before Broadhurst Magistrate's Court this week, Prosecutor Ame Daman said they have not been able to uphold their end due to the 'financial constraints' the government finds itself in.
“We have not been able to submit the witness statement, as the government is in financial constraints. We have not been able to get printing paper,” she said. Regarding the motion that was filed by the accused to have his case dismissed, she pleaded for more time to respond to the motion.
“We will file a notice for opposition to the motion so we may be given another date for that, and we believe in the next sitting we will be able to get to the motion,” she said.
The defence, however, did not take that kindly, decrying that the state is intentionally dragging its feet in the matter and does not want to progress.
“The chief of that is in terms of financial constraints on the availability of printing paper. It is truly remarkable cause the state can pay plane tickets to get my client in Tanzania and bring him to court in a hurry, and now they tell us there is no printing paper. It is not good enough,” agitated Mishingo Jeremia said.
Jeremia further raised his frustrations, stating that he fails to wrap his mind around the notion that the government is too broke to afford printing papers. Furthermore, he said he is appalled that even after months, the state has not even printed statements. “My client is in custody, and he has been there since January. I find it remarkable that during the entire time when preparations were being made, a small thing like a photocopy was not done. I don’t understand how the state can fail to photocopy,” he said.
Additionally, the defence argued that Jiajin has no case to answer and insinuated that the whole case is just a mere mockery, nothing else. “There is really no prosecution going on. This was a case that was filed for show, just an exhibition. If the state is not ready for trial, then my client should not be in court at all,” Jeremia said.
Moving on to the state’s plea that the motion be set for another date, Jeremia labelled the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as bullies of the office they hold, suggesting that this is just a way to punish Jiajin.
“The state is being abusive to our client, abusive of their authority. The motion to quash the case, the state was given six days, and the notice is sufficient for the matter as it speaks to just legal matters,” Jeremia said.
Moreover, Jeremia said the motion is not complex enough that even a fresh graduate from university can deal with the matter, as it does not need any fact-checking. “If a whole DPP prosecutor can charge a person with 994 counts is not able to respond to a motion in six days, then it's a travesty of justice. It can be done by anyone,” Jeremia said.
In response to the reasons advanced by the defence, Daman said it is not up to the defence to decide on what sufficient time is and asked that the magistrate agree to their request.
Presiding Magistrate Mareledi Dipate acceded to the plea by the state and set the matter for September 26 for the motion. The case continues.