BAMB, Security Systems, Alpha Feeds ex-workers face corruption charges

BAMB, Security Systems, Alpha Feeds ex-workers face corruption charges
BAMB, Security Systems, Alpha Feeds ex-workers face corruption charges

FRANCISTOWN: A former employee of Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB), Omphemetse Majase, Security Systems’ Moemedi Tshoganetso and Baitshepi Moesi of Alpha Feeds appeared in court today (Tuesday) to face four counts stemming from alleged corrupt practices.

Majase, Tshoganetso and Moesi worked as a BAMB sales assistant, a Security Systems security officer, and an Alpha Feeds director, respectively.

Charges against them were brought by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for their prosecution.

According to the charge sheet, Majase is charged with a count of corruption in respect of an official transaction.

The particulars of the offence are that Majase, 35, being a person employed in the public service as a sales assistant at BAMB accepted for himself, as valuable consideration, P26,000 as a reward from Moesi for not inputting the vehicle details of a truck that was driven by Joseph Makhanda at the weighbridge.

In the second charge, Tshoganetso is charged with a count of corrupt transactions by agents.

According to the particulars of the offence, Tshoganetso allegedly received P7,000 from Majase for not registering a truck that was driven by Makhanda at the weighbridge.

In the third count, Moesi is alleged to have corrupted a public officer.

Moesi is alleged to have given Majase P60,000 as valuable consideration for not registering a truck that was driven by Makhanda at the weighbridge.

In the last count, Majase and Moesi are charged with common theft.

As per the particulars of the offence, the duo acting together in concert with a common purpose stole sorghum belonging to BAMB.

The State alleges that all the offences happened on September 13, 2019, in Francistown.

The accused have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges and have said that they will engage attorneys to represent them.

Prosecutor Baedzi Matshambane told Chief Magistrate Goodwill Makofi that the State has not been able to serve the accused with the necessary documents to prepare their defence because they had a problem with printers at the DPP.

“As such, we are asking that we be allowed to serve the accused with the documents next week. We are, however, not opposed to the accused being granted bail,” Matshambane said.

Makofi granted the accused bail on the condition that they shall each bind themselves with P5,000; produce two sureties who shall each bind themselves in the same amount; not reasonably be suspected of having committed any offence that has an element of theft; appear in court as and when required to do so; report at a police station nearer to where they reside once every last Friday of every month between working hours.

The accused were remanded in custody until they fulfilled their bail conditions.

They are due in court again on June 13.

Editor's Comment
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Khama’s announcement to take over as Kgosikgolo was met with jubilation by some, but it also exposed deep-seated divisions. The Bogosi Act, which clearly states that a Mothusa Kgosi cannot be removed without the minister’s involvement, serves as a crucial legal safeguard. This law is designed to prevent arbitrary decisions and ensure stability within traditional leadership structures.The tension between Khama and Serogola has been simmering...

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