More suspected licence �sellers� busted
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday March 28, 2017 16:22
The suspected fraudsters from within the DRTS were arrested on suspicion that they issued various classes of drivers’ licences without following proper procedure.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications issued a press release yesterday stating that they have to-date suspended a total of 19 officers on suspicion of corrupt practices at the licensing offices.
“The corrupt practices the officers are implicated in range from fraudulent issuance of drivers’ licence, fraudulent issuance of roadworthy certificates, fraudulent issuance of theory tests, receiving bribes, fraudulent issuance of permits, soliciting money from customers and mismanagement of licensing forms,” read the press release.
DRTS Public Relations officer, Mmapula Sampson told Mmegi that service delivery on the side of practical tests (yard and road) had been halted.
“The yard and road tests resumed on March 27 (yesterday) till March 31, 2017 at the respective Gaborone, Mochudi and Molepolole DRTS stations. The public can now come and book at DRTS offices,” she said, adding that the theory booking and testing is ongoing.
The exercise has led to 29 individuals being questioned by the police for allegedly buying drivers’ licences as confirmed by police spokesperson, Witness Bosija.
“The investigation is broad and still ongoing. It is expected that more people will be questioned,” he said.
A fortnight ago five examiners from DRTS in Gaborone, Molepolole and Mahalapye were the frst to be arrested for allegedly ‘selling’ driver’s licences.
The arrests of the examiners led to a shutdown of licensing services at the Gaborone DRTS centre in Maruapula, as well as the Molepolole and Mahalapye ones.
The ongoing probe then led to more arrests and suspensions of the practical centres in all the DRTS stations around the country.
A source told Mmegi that it was established that the examiners would allegedly give the buyers marks when they never undertook a road test, while others would get marks without having sat for a theory test. Some would use automatic cars and get awarded marks as if they were using manual cars, which are the preferred vehicles for practical testing.
The source further stated that the licence classes in question varied from light duty vehicles to heavy duty, and in some instances, extra heavy duty.