Frozen accounts: Guma blames OP
Sharon Mathala | Friday July 10, 2015 18:03
The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), through the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) late last month applied for a court order to have bank accounts belonging to Guma’s transport company frozen.
In his affidavit seen by Mmegi, Guma as the managing director of IRB Transport stated that on May 29, 2015 when he went to his banker to pay his employees’ salaries and creditors, he discovered that the company account was blocked.
He explained that on the said date the teller who was helping him at the Game City branch then directed him to the manager for further clarification. He said the bank manager told him that they have received an instruction from the OP to temporarily freeze the said account.
Guma said he later took up the matter with vice president Mokgweetsi Masisi who denied the involvement of the highest office in the land. Masisi allegedly told Guma that it might have been a technical error with the bank.
In his affidavit, Guma explained the involvement of the second respondent, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng DCEC is investigating both Guma and Olopeng for possible corruption. But Guma explained that on December 10, 2014 Olopeng resigned from their joint company, sold 1500 shares valued at P3, 433, 072.79. This payment was made on December 11, 2014. In his affidavit, Guma also stated that in 2013 the Chinese company, Sinohydro, engaged IRB Transport for the construction of Kariba South Power Extension Project, the multi-million dollar Zimbabwe project that was commissioned last year.
He said on January 20, 2013 Sinohydro transferred U$3, 200, 000 to Guma’s transport company. The Tati East legislator said on March 30, 2014, they issued the Chinese construction company an invoice of P45, 126, 190.
Another invoice was issued on August 18, 2014 valued at P153 029. Sinohydro paid Guma’s company on November 28, 2014 an amount of U$3, 153, 029.94.
Closing his statement Guma said on May 29, 2015 when he discovered that his company account was frozen there was a total amount of P982, 286 and not P25, 948, 907 as alleged by the DCEC.
Late last month, the DPP filed a miscellaneous application to freeze the accounts of Olopeng and IRB Transport. According to the papers filed, IRB Transport is cited as first respondent, with Olopeng and Standard Chartered Bank Botswana as the second and third respectively.
No charges have been laid. The case continues on July 28 before magistrate Lenah Oahile-Mokibe for a rule nisi.