BAA call emergency meeting over P500,000 fraud
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday October 19, 2016 16:23
BAA public relations officer, Roland Masalila said Matibini was suspended on September 15 over unexplained purchase orders.
Now the association has called a meeting on Saturday with its affiliates to discuss the burning matter. The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) has been informed and a forensic audit is being carried out.
Masalila said the BAA leadership identified some irregularities in some purchase orders.
“Two companies brought invoices for services that we did not request for. The invoices were for a welcome ceremony for the Olympics team. They had quoted more than P500,000, the money that the association did not even have,” said Masalila.
He said the purchase orders had signatures of some executive committee members and upon being questioned, the members denied knowledge of the orders. He said preliminary investigations revealed that Matibini was the main suspect, hence the decision to suspend him. Masalila said the suspension is meant to give the police a chance to investigate. Masalila said he could not reveal more details on the matter for fear of jeopardising investigations.
A Mmegi Sport source, however alleged the leadership was aware of Matibini’s dealings.
According to the source, most of the transactions took place under the BAA’s sponsorship committee, which Matibini was part of.
Matibini worked with BAA president, Moses Bantsi and treasurer, Brian Mosweu in the committee. It is unclear, how the transactions under investigations eluded the top brass.
Bantsi refused to comment when contacted, instead referring questions to Masalila.
As a result of financial transgressions, the team that went to the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland travelled without allowances.
“The team came to complain that they had not received their allowances months after their return, which was a surprise. Mosweu, I understand, had to be engaged,” a BAA official said.
Mosweu reportedly said the money that was meant to pay the athletes was at his house.
The BAA is said to have asked Mosweu to write a letter to the executive committee explaining why he has kept athletes money at his house.