Parliamentary hopeful, former lawyer fall from grace
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday August 19, 2015 16:20
Mochudi Magistrate, Kefilwe Resheng yesterday postponed their sentencing to next month, after Moyo said she had to file more documents including those relating to a Presidential pardon she once received.
During their appearance in court yesterday, the two were without co-accused, Khiro Moyo who is still at large after escaping from prison. Khiro is Tebo Tracey’s husband. When delivering her judgment, Resheng found that the trio had acted jointly to steal property, including the farm animals, for money.
“Their intention was as clear as daylight, that they wanted to permanently deprive the owner of the said property, as he is yet to receive payment to date.
“I therefore convict all three accused of the offence of theft and stock theft,” Resheng ruled.
The court had heard that in June 2006, Ngakaetsile and Moyo were engaged to recover money owed by one Motsamai Tau to the tune of P60,000. Tau owed Petma Cash Loans and Two Two Five Investments after he engaged the latter to drill a borehole for him and the former to give him a loan.
Moyo, who owned Moyo Attorneys at the time, was then engaged to recover the amounts Tau owed, and as process of the law, she engaged Ngakaetsile as the deputy sheriff in the matter.
Ngakaetsile then attached and confiscated a VW Caddy, wooden wall unit, LG TV set, decoder, 33 goats, four head of cattle, video recorder, a Kenwood radio, four-piece set of sofas, coffee table, Lister TS1 engine, aluminium irrigation pipes, sprinklers and plastic drippers.
According to papers before court, Ngakaetsile had estimated the property seized to be valued at around P278,000.
However, the deputy sheriff did not pay Petma Cash Loans and Two Two Five Investments and no residual amount was ever paid back to Tau.
In his defence, Ngakaetsile said lawyer Moyo had kept the properties seized at her offices, while he left for Gaborone. Upon his return, he had sold three cattle for P4,000 at an auction as Tau had not made any payments on his debt.
Ngakaetsile claimed to have deposited the proceeds with Moyo and was later informed that another deputy sheriff had been engaged to finalise sale of the other items.
The former parliamentary hopeful said he demanded payment for the services he had provided up to that point and was informed by lawyer Moyo that the matter would be looked into.
Ngakaetsile said police later informed him that a criminal investigation was unfolding around the matter.
For her part, Moyo and her husband – prior to his escape – preferred to remain silent during the trial. Sentencing will take place on September 3.