Daisy Loo defence brings in new evidence

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 10, 2010 00:00

 

Yesterday, Keaja breathed a sigh of relief after the state prosecutor Wasson Manchwe finished re-examining the case. All along the court had been made to understand that it was Bitsang Abbey, one of the accused, who instructed Daisy Loo to do some bush clearing and grass-cutting along the Segoditshane Riverbed from Bull and Bush to Gaborone Game Reserve.

However, things took a dramatic twist last week when under cross examination Keaja could not defend that statement (that Abbey is the one who gave the instruction) because of the evidence brought by one of the defence lawyers, Unoda Mack.This forced the witness to agree that indeed it was Gaborone City Council that instructed Daisy Loo to do the work along the Segoditshane Riverbed. Mack produced several documents and transcripts, which Keaja could not deny.

Manchwe tried by all means to reduce the damage that had already been done. He asked Keaja about the report that he presented at the Finance and General Purpose Committee that did not include his concerns about the lack of authority that sanctioned the bush clearing and grass cutting along the Segoditshane river bed. The witness simply said he was not in a position to explain the omission.

The case was adjourned after the state revealed that they did not bring their witness to court due to ill health. However Manchwe was quick to point out that the witness will be able to come to court today.

Daisy Loo is alleged to have tried to defraud the Gaborone City Council of money amounting to over P24 million by falsely claiming that they had de bushed the Segoditshane riverbed.

Facts of the case are that Frank Molaletsi, Joseph Stegling, Abbey, Daisy Loo and Moemedi Dijeng, acting jointly and for a common purpose, conspired to defraud council unspecified amounts of money by fraudulently issuing unauthorized variations of contract to Daisy Loo, which falsely presented that the Segoditshane River was part of Area D.