NDB applies for fraudster to pay P132,000

Lebogang Mosikare | Wednesday January 28, 2015 11:03

Keitebetse committed the offence in October 2011 in Francistown. During trial Keitebetse denied ever receiving any money from NDB although documents produced before court as part of evidence showed that the loan was deposited into her First National Bank (FNB) account.

NDB relationship manager Monageng Rebaagetse made the application before Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi.

Rebaagetse said that although Keitebetse swindled the bank of P97,000 she would now have to pay P132,000 inclusive of interest. Rebaagetse added the accused had only repaid an amount equivalent to P14,000 after she was given the loan. The accused’s attorney Mishingo Jeremia did not object.

In mitigation Jeremia said Keitebetse was a first offender and was aged just 24 years then. “The fact that the accused is a first offender is testimony that it is not in her character to steal or commit any other offences and the court should consider that when sentencing her. She has attended court 28 times since she was tried of this offence. That on its own is emotionally and psychologically draining. She did not work ever since legal proceedings were instituted against her in order to concentrate on this case. That on its own also tortured her,” said Jeremia.

He added: “The accused is in the process of compensating NDB with interest and she has learnt her lesson. The court should give her a suspended sentence because she can be rehabilitated to become a responsible member of society and activate it if she is found guilty of committing similar offences in future.”

Keitebetse will be sentenced on February 11 and was further remanded in custody. Gasemotho Pitlagano represented the state in the matter.

Meanwhile, Simbarashe Mafumo pleaded not guilty to obtaining a national identity card (Omang) by false pretences. The state says that Mafumo committed the offence on November 8, 2007 in Francistown.

State counsel Nancy Obonye-Ebineng told Magistrate Basupi that investigations into the matter were complete and the state intended to call 10 witnesses.

Basupi set trial dates in the matter to April 8 and 9. Attorney Muriro Furusa represents Mafumo.