Warrant of arrest to be issued for sick defendant

Tebogo Kgalemang
Correspondent | Friday November 19, 2010 00:00

Regional magistrate Lorraine-Makati Lesang on Wednesday ordered the State to file an application for a warrant of arrest on Moloko Ursula Mokgokong by November 24, 2010.

'The desire is that the accused person should appear before the court so that the charge can be read,' Lesang said.

Mokgokong has never appeared before the court since the case was registered in June this year.

The criminal case centers around the corrupt sale of State land in Francistown and surrounding areas, Kasane and Tatisiding. The estimated value of land that has purportedly been illegally transacted amounts toP2,449,800.

Attorney Phazha Kgalemang, who is representing Mokgokong, is required to respond to the warrant of arrest application by December 8th. He will meet with the prosecution on  December 20th for arguments on the application. Chief prosecutor Kgosietsile Ngakaagae and Samantha Mbikiwa are representing the State.

The State is arguing that Mokgokong should make her appearance before the court so that the charge sheet is read to her and other accused persons and subsequently trial date be set. Mokgokong, who is a Principal State counsel, is the main defendant among 30 other defendants.

Attorney Kgalemang however told the court that his client is on sick leave. He further stated that he has consulted with her and the information he got is that she will be going for the next review in January next year.

'She wont be available between now and January next year,' Kgalemang told the court.

Kgalemang also presented his client's sick leave to the magistrate who read it before the court. The sick leave stated that Mokgokong wouldn't be fit to attend today's mention.

Lesang however indicated that she was positive that the accused person would not be sick forever.