Seretse, co-accused fear possible assassination
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday January 19, 2018 16:52
In a letter delivered to the Commissioner of Police, Keabetswe Makgophe on Wednesday, written by attorney Kgosietsile Ngakaagae, the accused persons raised concerns over their personal safety.
The letter has also been copied to the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).
Seretse, Botho Leburu and Kenneth Kerekang are facing money-laundering charges in their personal capacities and will appear for mention before the Regional Magistrate Court on January 25, 2018.
“Clients have received information through sympathetic sources in the intelligence community that a plan has been hatched by state operatives, operating on orders of high offices, to cause their demise. It is further intended, our side is advised, to take the life of one of the family members of some of our clients, one of them, a judicial officer,” Ngakaagae’s letter reads.
Ngakaagae also claimed his clients are considered to be having information, which if divulged to the public may cause embarrassment to persons in high offices, permanently tarnish their reputation, or even put them at risk of immediate or eventual prosecution.
It is intended, amongst others, to cause the demise of Seretse, alternatively, to ensure that he suffers his demise in South Africa, where a false narrative is being developed at public expense that he is responsible for the murder of his former business partner, Vusi Mhlanzi.
The design, our side is advised, is to ensure that he is killed by those aggrieved by the murder of the aforesaid individual.”
Mhlanzi was shot dead on August 31, 2017 in Sandton, South Africa in what is suspected to be an assassination. He was a shareholder in Basis Points Capital with Seretse.
The South African Police Service is investigating the alleged hit, according to the media. Mmegi is reliably informed that Mhlanzi’s family has hired a private investigator to look into the matter.
The lawyer said the information was shared with them confidentially and accordingly, they are not at liberty to reveal the identity of their sources for fear of betraying their confidence and further, “for fear of exposing them to career or physical danger”.
“We wish to put it on record that their side (clients and attorneys) shall proceed with the defence of this matter in its best judgement and shall not bow to any threat whatsoever.”
Ngakaagae emphasised that they brought this information to the attention of Makgophe as the primary law enforcement authority vested with the statutory mandate of protecting the lives of their clients and all involved in the money-laundering case.
“We further bring this information to your attention as a pre-warning to the relevant high offices that we have become aware of their intentions and further that they shall be held responsible and accountable in the event of our clients’ death(s) or physical injury. It has been decided that this correspondence be shared with the media in the public’s interest and in the interest of (our) clients’ safety.”