Alleged swindling car dealer remanded in custody

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday May 7, 2010 00:00

 

Effort Enerst Mutangi (30), whose nationality was not disclosed, is at the centre of a P367, 953 car scam. He is the Director of Mogoditshane-based Gwenhamo Holdings which deals in imported second hand cars. Mutangi was brought before Magistrate Haiwu Nuru to answer to 12 counts of obtaining by false pretences. Mutangi is alleged to have swindled P300,000 from 11 people on different occasions in Gaborone spanning from August 2009 to April this year, claiming that he was going to buy them cars in Durban, South Africa and overseas.

Mutangi is alleged to have defrauded Gofaone Mbikiwa of about P30,300 claiming that he was going to purchase a Toyota Fortuner for him. On the second count, he is alleged to have defrauded the same Mbikiwa of P20,200 on September 2009 for clearing the said Toyota Fortuner.

On other counts, Mutangi is alleged to have defrauded Tebogo Seatla of US$2,000 on September 24th 2009; Mosiame Lebang of P16,000 on November 12th 2009; Mpho Selei P60,000 on November 18th 2009; and Kealeboga Selebatso P35,600 on December 25,2009.

He allegedly defrauded Tshepho Gobonyane of P27,000 on March 12th, 2010, Botshelo Motswagole of P24 000, Obokile Keoletile of P33,600 to Matungi on March 18th 2009. Pheko Pheko was next to the tune of P38,353 on December 17th, 2009 on March 3rd 2010 and Justice Kadubane of P34,000. The last victim, according to the charge sheet, was Bakane Nkonyezi who was allegedly defrauded of a sum P34, 000.

The complainants sent their monies to Mutangi for him to purchase different vehicles for them. Mutangi is now telling a story and is in jail awaiting bail. The Broadhurst Magistrates Court had to postpone the case to today as the state had asked for time to study and look more into the defence submission when applying for bail awaiting trial. The state had applied that Mutangi be remanded in custody as he had another case pending before court.

Tebogo Masala of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the court that Mutangi was granted bail, one of the conditions of which was never to be a suspect in any other matter. He added that Mutangi is a non-citizen who is facing multiple counts which are deemed serious, and that if granted bail, there is a likelihood of absconding from court proceedings.  Masala also told the court that investigations are ongoing, adding that they forsee some charges being added to the current ones.

However, defence attorney, Kiven Mvududu told the court that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Mvududu told the court that as such, his client should be granted bail. He further told the court that his client has strong commercial and family ties in Botswana and is therefore not a flight risk if granted bail. He implored the court to consider conditional bail if the court finds it fit to do so. 

He further told the court that his client has no control on who may lay charges against him, as such too much weight should not be put on the issue of his having another case before court. He charged that it is by no deliberate intent that his client is before court to answer to the current charges. 'Charges have been brought prematurely by the complainants. They expected their vehicles to be delivered at their door earlier than the six months period they have been promised,' Mvududu said.  The state is due to respond to defence submissions and the magistrate will then make a ruling on the bail application. State prosecutor Masala appeared with Inspector Christopher Tlhapi-David of the Botswana Police Service.