The DPP, Leatile Dambe came prepared for trial yesterday at the Broadhurst Magistrates' Court but she was halted when the lawyers made two applications saying they have not been given all the statements of witnesses the state wishes to call. The regional magistrate, Terrence Rannowane, adjourned the case to Thursday when he would make a ruling on the points raised by the defence.
The defence lawyers in the case where officials of Daisy Loo cleaning company and Gaborone City Council (GCC) are charged with corruption and fraud arising from a P20 million-plus tender are Duma Boko, Dick Bayford, Tebogo Sebego, Unoda Mack and Joao Salbany. Speaking on behalf of the defence team, Mack submitted that they were given 48 statements while there are over 90 state witnesses as revealed by an affidavit filed by the head of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) Tymon Katlholo in a civil matter connected with the case at the Lobatse High Court. "In view of the development, I think we are entitled to see the remaining evidence," he said. Mack added that this was not a small matter and the defence team had thought it best to re-file their papers. He said that by choosing which evidence to give out and keeping some of the witness statements', the DPP is indirectly choreographing the defence.
