DCEC warns community against bogus officers

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Monday June 7, 2010 00:00

 

The DCEC arrested two such men last Thursday, in Selebi-Phikwe, who were masquerading as officials from their department. The men were arrested a they obtained money from people who were under investigation for obtaining illegal drivers' licenses. One of the accused claimed that they were officers from the DCEC and they would dismiss the case under investigation if the victims paid them money ranging from P4,000 to P5,000. The pair are currently in police custody pending investigations. The directorate's public relations officer, Motshoganetsi Lentswe said during an interview that they managed to investigate and make arrests after they received a tip off from one victim who felt the 'bribery' was too much.

The DCEC is therefore warning the public against such criminals who go around stealing people's money pretending to be officials from the directorate. The public is encouraged to be extra cautious and should demand DCEC identity cards and the name of the officer they are dealing with when they are approached by such suspicious people.

'They are further urged to immediately call the DCEC to confirm the authenticity of the persons. The DCEC would like to state further that it is an offence to emulate a DCEC office and those who are caught in the act will be prosecuted,' a statement from the DCEC urges.

Lentswe said it is not new for them to be investigating such a case, only that they were not successful in making arrests in the past. He also warned the public against a syndicate which targeted and swindled people who won tenders in and around Gaborone.

'They would approach people who would have won tenders and claimed that they are investigating the award of the tender which was dubious and demand a bribery of about P1 million. We caution the public about such criminals. The mysterious thing about these criminals is that they have first hand information of what we are doing and capitalise on it to swindle the public.'

Meanwhile the statement indicates that two men were fined P2,000 each or six months imprisonment in default of payment for corruption. It is alleged that the accused persons were Technical Officers at the Central Transport Organisation in Gantsi. It is alleged that around February and March 2004 they corruptly accepted money amounting to P1,800 from different people as a reward for the said public officers to issue roadworthiness certificates for some motor vehicles.