The Court of Appeal (CoA) bench comprising Court President Justice Tebogo Tau, Justices Singh Lakhvinder Walia and Baaitse Nkabinde this morning advised Morupisi through his lawyer, Busang Manewe, to consider taking more time to address the court on a point of law which allows the highest court to either enhance or reduce his sentence. Before arguments for the appeal could start, the Judge President noted that in his papers, Morupisi stated that he is challenging his conviction but, on his relief sought, he asks for the court to discharge and acquit him which could also directly affect his sentence and not just conviction.
The matter has since been postponed to the April session, giving Morupisi time to consider his position. In the grounds of appeal, Morupisi argued that the High Court erred by failing to recognise that the charges that he has been convicted of were bad for duplicity and/or that there has been an improper splitting of charges. “The three counts are bad for duplicity, which is prejudicial to me and I am entitled to acquittal. The court should set aside the charges,” he said. At the heart of Morupisi’s case is a Toyota Land Cruiser motor vehicle, which he is accused of purchasing with the Botswaba Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF) funds. Morupisi was charged, tried and convicted on an indictment containing three counts namely, two counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.
