Corruption charges dropped against Seretse, Paledi

High Court Judge Bengbame Sechele yesterday freed Trade and Industry Minister Vincent Seretse and his co-accused, businessman Paul Paledi, after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) applied for a withdrawal of charges against them. The case, which was set down for four days, ended after only 26 minutes.  Soon after the lawyers for both the accused persons and the State had identified themselves, Justice Sechele wanted to know if the accused had already pleaded or not.

Attorney Mosweu Ditodi of the DPP was the first to stand up and address the court. Answering to the Judge’s specific question, he said the accused had not pleaded as yet. When the Judge asked if they could, Ditodi explained that there were new developments regarding the State’s case and added that it might not be necessary for the accused to plead because the State had decided to apply for a withdrawal of the charges.