Guma, Olopeng back in court

Sharon Mathala | Wednesday September 9, 2015 16:30

In June, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) froze the accounts of IRB Transport, a company in which the Tati East legislator is a director.

The DPP also cited Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng and Standard Chartered Bank Botswana, as second and third respondents in the matter.  In the last court sitting, Guma’s lawyers Moses Kadye and Dick Bayford asked the court to allow them to file more affidavits in response to the answering affidavits made by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).

However, this was turned down by Oahile-Mokibe. The lawyers had argued that they needed to file more court documents as the DCEC had made further allegations against Guma in its replying affidavits.

“The replying affidavits have included more allegations. They have indicated possible bribery and corruption, and also that Guma uttered a false document, money laundering. “All of these are not in the founding affidavit and as such they need to be dealt with,” submitted Kadye.

Bayford had said the defence retained its right to appeal Oahile-Mokibe’s decision at the High Court.

“We just want to ensure a fair hearing. Either we approach the High Court, or we also seek to strike out some of the issues implied in the DCEC’s declarations,” he said.