Manual Workers� Union Defrauded of P700,000
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday October 16, 2017 18:00
Attorney, Bhekimpilo Moyo and Tebogo Koketso, who is an Asset Financial Manager at Stanbic Bank have been charged for allegedly defrauding the union of close to a million pula after they sold a ploughing field to the union through a manipulated and forged title deed. It is alleged that the accused persons claimed that the owner of the field, the late Solomon Tlhapane, had passed the ownership to Koketso.
The two have been charged alongside Bhekizwe Nkomazana who faces several counts including allegedly stealing P3.5 million belonging to Tlhapane, his late boss.
The Monitor has established that the union bought the area for development of multiple residential plots.
Both Moyo and Koketso were yesterday granted bail by Broadhurst magistrate Gaseitsiwe Tonoki. Moyo was ordered to pay cash bail of P10,000 and provide two Batswana sureties who will also bind themselves with P10,000 each. His fellow accused Koketso was given a recognisance bail of P10,000 and was also to provide two sureties who would bind themselves with P10,000 each.
“This is in light of what both the defence counsel and the State have said. Accused number 5 (Moyo) is not a citizen of this country, and the offence committed involves a large amount of money,” said Tonoki.
Attorney Bhekimpilo Sibanda, who is representing Moyo, had earlier argued that the P10,000 cash bail proposed by the State was too steep for his client.
In other counts, Nkomazana has been charged alongside his girlfriend Sharon Lompehu, Onthusitse Seoke (a National Registration Officer) and Jerico Murima (a carpenter), Billy Molefe, Motlalepula Molefe, Daniel Gasefiwe, Keothupile Aobakwe, Levy Moswe and Pula Joseph.
All the 12 accused persons in the matter are on bail except first accused Nkomazana. They have been ordered to appear before the Regional Magistrate’s court on November 16 where they are expected to move for separation of cases.