Teacher changes plea to not guilty in exam paper theft scandal

BONIFACE KEAKABETSE
Correspondent | Tuesday November 16, 2010 00:00

Marobela (33) had pleaded guilty during his arraignment before the Maun magistrate, Phanidiwe Taka a week ago. The magistrate postponed the proceedings to yesterday's date after it emerged in court that Marobela was not given a chance to seek legal counsel before he entered the guilty plea.

He has since enrolled the services of Maun-based lawyer, Charles Tlagae who has indicated that his client has to change his plea because he was 'pressured' into entering the guilty plea. 

Prosecutor, Isaac Mamadi of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions did not oppose the plea change. He said police investigations in the case are finished and the State will call 12 witnesses when the trial, set for May 2-4 2011, resumes.

According to the charge sheet Marobela allegedly stole the following examination papers:  Double Science Paper 1, package No 14, Science Double Award Paper 3 package No 28, English Language Paper 1 package No 29, English paper 2 package No 29, Commerce Paper 1,2,3, Mathematics Paper 1,2,3 in packages of 9, 36 and 9..