In the face of pressure and uncertainty, the former Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) remained composed during court proceedings as his case came to a final closure before he could know his fate regarding his pending jail imprisonment. Clad on a light blue suit, Morupisi was this time with his wife, Pinie Morupisi, who for a while has been missing in action during proceedings. They both appeared at ease.
Throughout the marathon case, Morupisi has enjoyed family support as his family members were always in attendance in the many court appearances, something he might have drawn strength and tenacity from. The unperturbed Morupisi, who is convicted of corruption and money laundering, took the front row seat in an ever packed courtroom to hear his attorney, Dr Obonye Jonas, try his all to make sure that he does not return to jail as advocated for by the Attorney General and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The final close down in an appeal brought by the State on an expedited basis seeks to overturn a January 3, 2025 judgment by the High Court which ultimately released Morupisi from prison. He had previously spent a month in jail having been sent there by the Court of Appeal on December 6, 2024 after his sentence was varied from non custodial to a seven-year sentence. Morupisi has mounted a fierce fight throughout his case as before the hearing of his appeal on Tuesday this week, he had thrown in two applications trying to stay the proceedings and also sought the recusal of two judges. In the stay proceedings application, Morupisi had wanted to challenge the empanelling of the judges by the CoA president, Justice Tebogo Tau, as he argued that she was part of the bench that sent him to jail in the first place. He felt that Justice Tau was conflicted and on recusal application, he had wanted Justices Isaac Lesetedi and Leatile Dambe to recuse themselves from the five benches empanelled to hear the appeal.
