Seretse to appear for case update

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Thursday August 29, 2013 00:00

 

Seretse, who is expected to appear before Justice Tshepo Motswagole, will become one of the first people to appear before the recently established Lobatse-based Corruption Court.  Thabiso Tafila of Minchin and Kelly represents Seretse.He assistant minister is charged alongside Paul Paledi, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) project manager Berndt Astrom and Serala (Pty) Ltd. The accused are charged with corruption, contrary to Section 31 (1) of the Corruption and Economic Crime Act. It is alleged that on February 14, 2008 in Gaborone, whilst employed as BTC chief executive officer, Seretse proposed to deal with Serala (Pty) Ltd., a company owned by Paledi, without disclosing his interest in the company. 

Seretse allegedly participated in the proceedings of the BTC board relating to the awarding of Tender No. BTC/Mob/DLR003/2008-09 to Serala (Pty) Ltd.It is alleged that between March 5th and 8th, 2008 in Gaborone, whilst CEO of BTC Seretse abused his authority and without authority directed Moatshe Lebekwe and Astrom to recruit eight employees of BTC, namely, Astrom, Gabalemogwe Rankgate, Oiketlile Setema, Bareng Gaadingwe, Keone Mpodi, Yunnes Salim Moyo, Segopotso Lebele and Lebekwe to offer their services to Serala (Pty) Ltd. by supplying the company with their CVs and further entering into letters of intent for employment with the company whilst they were still employees of BTC, a proposition prejudicial to BTC.

Paledi faces a charge of giving false information to a person employed in the public service. It is alleged that on February 25th, 2008, Paledi gave false information to Cecil Masiga in his capacity as the evaluation team leader employed by the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services to the effect that Serala had recruited the BTC employees and further that Serala had entered into letters of intent for employment with the company.The state argues that the false information given to Masiga caused him to issue a selective invitation to tender to Serala (Pty) Ltd. and further for the company to be evaluated for provision of Project Management Services for the implementation of Underserved Area Telecommunication (Nteletsa 2), which resolution the evaluation team would not have made had they been given the correct information.

Astrom faces a charge of abuse of office. The state alleges that between March 5th and 8th, 2008, Astrom assumed the position of project manager in Serala (Pty) Ltd. whilst still employed by BTC as a project manager, an act prejudicial to the rights and interests of BTC.The state is expected to call 44 witnesses against the accused.