Court blocks Zim man froam going home for Christmas

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday December 17, 2010 00:00

Dowera is at the centre of a share certificate scam that has allegedly defrauded many people of millions of pula.

In blocking Dowera from travelling over Christmas, Magistrate Barnabas Nyamazhabo agreed with the state that once there is reasonable belief that the accused had committed an offence, his liberty could be restricted.

Nyamadzabo therefore ruled that if Dowera wanted to enjoy the festive season with his family, he could make arrangements for them to visit him in Botswana. Further, Dowera's travel documents will not be released pending trial.

However, Dowera may travel within Botswana without first seeking permission from DCEC, but he must report to DCEC investigating officers once fortnightly. Dowera is facing five counts of obtaining by false pretences.

The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime alleges that Patrick Dowera, on March 20, 2009 in Gaborone, fraudulently uttered a false Notice of Issue of Shares to Tonic Thabo Tshebe, who is an employee of Stanbic Bank Botswana.

Dowera allegedly purported to be a shareholder in Landscape Decorators Botswana (Pty) Ltd when he knew that he was not.

It is further alleged that on 20 March 2008, Dowera uttered a false copy of the company's register of directors and secretaries and a share certificate to First National Bank Botswana, purporting to be a Director (of Botswana origin) and a shareholder in Landscape Decorators Botswana (Pty) Ltd. when he knew he was neither a Motswana nor a director or shareholder of the said company.

The state further alleges that on or about 25 September 2007 in Gaborone, Dowera fraudulently uttered a false Zimbabwean passport in an application for a residence permit.

On 2 April 2008, his company Landscape Decorators allegedly represented to the Chairman of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) that all Principals and Senior Permanent Staff listed in the PPADB form dated 05/11/07 were its employees when in fact not all the said members were so employed. Further on 2 April 2008, Dowera's company represented to PPADB in an application for registration of the company with the said board that it owned a water browser when such information was false.