�Fake� lawyer faces more charges
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday October 11, 2017 15:29
The amendment came after Village magistrate, Goodwill Makofi pointed out that the charge sheet was ambiguous.
Makofi had in the previous appearance pointed out at the ‘ambiguity’ of the charge on the count of obtaining by false pretences.
Yesterday, prosecutor Keletso Nfosi told the court that they have revised Moyo’s charge sheet, which was read out to the accused.
In the amended document, Moyo now faces 14 counts of obtaining by false pretence and one of unlawfully remaining in Botswana beyond 90 days between October 31, 2012 and June 21, 2017 in Gaborone for a period of 1,695 days (four years, 233 days).
In count one to 14, Moyo is said to have defrauded different people of money amounting to over P62,000 in different incidents by claiming to be a dully registered lawyer and admitted as such in Botswana through his Para Legal Services and Consultancy Company when he knew that he was not authorised to carry out such a business, as he does not have the requisite qualifications.
The offences happened in Gaborone between November 2014 and June 2017.
Initially, the accused was said to have defrauded 165 people, but the prosecution has since brought only 15 counts against him.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges but one of unlawfully staying in Botswana.
It is alleged that the accused operated an unlicensed business and rendered legal services and had no proper qualifications to practise as a legal advisor.
It is said that people who had sought legal services from the accused had cases at district level, magistrate’s court, High Court and Court of Appeal and the Industrial Court.
Nfosi opposed Moyo being granted bail.
“The state opposes to him being granted bail. He is not legally in the country. He was a free man, who is now facing a potential seven-years jail term,” she said.
However, after Moyo told the court that he has applied for bail at the Lobatse High Court, magistrate Makofi said the issue of bail should be left to the High Court to deal with it.
He ordered the accused to return to court on October 18, 2017.