Sibling rivalry in P21m govt stores fraud case

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Thursday June 10, 2010 00:00

 

Nthibo is charged together with Jabulani Johnson, Norman Maja, Aaron Babolele, Lebogang Kaisara, David Tumagole, Patrick Cole, Clement Molefe, Otsile Mosarwe, Abraham Marumo and Bee Jenamo Mfana in the case in which CMS lost P21 million.

The state prosecutors, fearing the worst, made an application that Bushy's young brother, Kabelo, be introduced as an accomplice witness.

The state's lead prosecutor, Thabo Malambane, submitted that there was a likelihood that Kabelo might try to protect his brother by deviating from what he had recorded in his statement.

He said he was taken away during investigations when giving his evidence in chief.

However, the dread-locked Kabelo told the court exactly what he had recorded in the statement to the satisfaction of Magistrate Lot Moroka.

'There is no material difference between his statement and the evidence that he led in court. Therefore there is no need to declare him a hostile witness,' Moroka said.

Kabelo told the court that some time in 2008, his father told him that he wanted to start constructing a house in Metsimotlhabe. Kabelo revealed that his father finished the commencement of the project with which Nthibo volunteered to help along the way.

He told the court that his involvement in the construction was to purchase some building material. He believed that Bushy was financing the house from the money he was earning where he worked. Kabelo further revealed that the investigating officers who were handling the case before he wrote his statement threatened him.

He told the court that the police confiscated R3,200, which he was given by his cousin, Keabetswe Mmereki, to keep for Bushy.For his part, Bushy's cousin, Keabetswe Cosmos Mmereki, testifying for the state, told the court that he once kept money for Bushy. Mmereki said the money amounted to about P60,000 and R8,450.

He told the court that he was not surprised when Bushy gave him money, as he knew that Bushy was changing jobs.

'I thought it was some benefits he got when leaving the Ministry of Health for Debswana,' Mmereki said. He told the court that upon receiving the money, Bushy told him that he should keep it for him as he was undertaking some construction and it was not safe to keep it at his (Bushy) home.

He told the court that in subsequent days, Bushy came to fetch the remaining money and only R3,200 was left. 'I called Bushy's younger brother, Kabelo, to come and take the money and keep it for Bushy,' Mmereki said. Mmereki told the court that at that time, Bushy had already told him that he was arrested.

Mmereki was called to the police station where he claims he was tortured before he was interrogated.

He told the court that upon his arrival at the offices, he was interrogated and tortured before the statement was taken from him. Another State witness and Bushy's father, Cosmos Nthibo revealed that, he was questioned by some police officers about his son's involvement in Central Medical Stores case, Cosmos told the court that at the time the crime was committed, he had just started building a house for his family.

Cosmos told the court that he sold four oxen for P20,000 which he used to start the project. Bushy volunteered to help finish the project.

Cosmos had no reason to suspect that his son could not finish the project.

He told the court that the police came to his house, took pictures and then confiscated the unused building material at the construction site.