Former lover testifies against fraud suspect

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday July 23, 2010 00:00

Smart told the court that Marumo gave her R20,000 as school fees for the children but she used the money to buy a car (VW Golf 4). Smart said she had to find more funds to add to the R20,000 to buy the said car. 'I sold my other two cars and acquired a loan to top up the money Marumo gave me', Smart said.

She told the court that she bought the car at the beginning of 2008 at a cost of P38,000 but sold it for P50,000.  'I sold the car at P50,000 to one Mr Teemane but he only paid P28 000', Smart said.

Asked why she sold the car, Smart told the court that she wanted something cheaper as she was going to further her studies at the University of Botswana (UB) and also to save some money for her children.

Smart explained that she never asked Marumo why he gave her the money in foreign currency, as he used to run cross-border truck businesses to South Africa which sometimes paid him in those currencies. She told the court that she does not know whether Marumo was still running his truck businesses, as they were no longer together.

The police, under the suspicion that it was the proceeds of crime, confiscated the vehicle, which has been tendered as an exhibit.

State prosecutor, Phadi Solomon said only two witnesses remain to testify, one of whom is in South Africa.  Solomon told the court that they are facing some hiccups in bringing the South Africa witness to Botswana, as South African Minister of Justice is yet to grant the said witness permission. 'The Minister of Justice is yet to sign some authorisation to allow the witness to travel here. We are working round the clock to make it a point that the witness comes,' Solomon said.

Solomon told the court that they have already issued a subpoena for the said witness, which only leaves the investigating officer before the State can close its case. The case will continue on July 29.

The fraud case, in which CMS lost about P21 million has several suspects, namely; Jabulani Johnson, Norman Maja, Aaron Babolele, Lebogang Kaisara, David Tumagole, Patrick Cole, Clement Molefe, Otsile Mosarwe, Abraham Marumo, Nthibo and Bee Jenamo Mfana.