State to close Morupisi trial
Mpho Mokwape | Friday August 7, 2020 14:36
This was after the prosecution led by lawyer, Priscilla Israel indicated to court last week it would not be calling some of its key witnesses who were expected to take the stand.
“We are expecting to close the case after the witness on the stand as we have decided not to call our other witnesses,” Israel told the court.
Amongst the witnesses struck off from taking the stand are Trudy Suzanne Marsland, the former wife of Tim Marsland and Lesedi Moakofhi who was at the time of the alleged offences acting chief executive officer/Principal Officer for Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF).
Many had expected that the two would take the stand and shed light on the case because at the time Moakofhi was alleged to have signed a contract together with Morupisi on behalf of BPOPF and Capital Management Botswana (CMB) when such was suspended by an order of court. Now Moakofhi will face the public on the dock not as a witness because the State decided to turn tables and charge her with corruption.
In an interview last week, Moakofhi said she was stunned by the turn of events as she had done things by the book and wasn’t sure where the charge emanated from.
It would have been interesting for the public to hear what Moakofhi had to say after being accused of signing the contract despite knowing it was wrong and that it was alleged that she was warned about signing it on many occasions.
Trudy, who seemed to have more knowledge on dealings that went down amongst Morupisi, Rapula Okaile and his former husband regarding the Land Cruiser at the centre of the case, on one hand will not take the stand contrary to expectations.
Trudy had said quite a few in her statement as far as the Land Cruiser was concerned.
Marsland had told the State that as far as she knows the vehicle was bought for Morupisi as a ‘thank you’ gift, which was purchased through CMB.
Trudy noted that she became aware of transaction relating to the vehicle, a Land Cruiser that Tim and Rapula purchased and she came to know that the car was bought for PSP who was also the board chairperson of BPOPF.
However, the State took a different turn when it announced in court that it will not be calling the pair.
Rather the State stated it will close its case with the last witness on the stand being the Directorate on Crime and Economic Crime lead investigator, Kentse Setlaboshane.
The case was adjourned with Setlaboshane still on the stand due to his request, as he told court he was disturbed by a break-in at his residence.