DIS denies DCEC files possession
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday March 20, 2023 06:00
In his writ of summons served upon the parties, German is aggrieved and literally seething with anger at the conduct of his former superiors in (mis) handling some of the investigation dockets in his possession. These are dockets that were in his custody and duly locked up in a safe in his office. Some files allegedly went missing after the DIS raided the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) headquarters in Gaborone looking for unspecified files.
These are reportedly the same corruption dockets which led to the raid and sealing off of the offices of the Director General of the DCEC, Tymon Katholo and his eventual suspension from office last year.
Allegations are that the case files related to corruption allegations against the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Emma Peloetletse, the Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) Peter Magosi and the acting Director General of the DCEC, Tshepo Pilane.
In his affidavit, German’s statement is that upon his return to the office after his brief detention he went to his office at the DCEC to collect some personal belongings and was surprised to find his office door ajar with some occupants inside, when he knew that he had left it locked and no one had spare keys to his office. He would later in his summons describe the whole scenario as a case of office break in, which he duly reported to the police and it is a matter in the police hands.
German averred that the investigation files related to Peloetletse, Magosi and Pilane and had been stored in his office safe and could not be availed.
Worse, he alleged that he was unlawfully arrested at the instance of Magosi and Pilane and subsequently transferred by Peloetletse, all suspects in the cases he was investigating and was the lawful possessor of all investigation material relating to the said files. He further alleges that Magosi, Pilane and Peloetletse colluded to pervert the course of justice.
German’s aversions come in the background of denials by Magosi, who in an interview last December, denied that his office was ever in possession of the alleged dockets after his team raided the DCEC offices.
Quizzed about the DCEC investigations against him last year December, Magosi was steadfast: “Nothing is going to stop me from fighting corruption.”
He added: “I am more than ready to go to court and defend myself against the charge they have preferred against me. We had and still have all the evidence on what happened with the tenders they won. Yes, we reached a compromise with the Chinese company and the person who was at the helm of perpetuating corruption was relieved of his duties and so that’s why we de-listed the company. As long as I am at the helm of the DIS, we will continue to fight corruption.”
Asked further whether when the DIS raided the DCEC offices they were looking for Magosi’s corruption file docket, Magosi vehemently denied this.
He explained: “We were looking for certain documents that we outlined in our affidavit. We did not touch any other docket. I would have not allowed my officers to do that. No one is above the law, I have always said. Even myself, that file is still with the DCEC and we have not touched it. Like I said I am more than ready to appear before court and defend what truly happened with the China Jiangsu blacklisting.”
Even German’s superior, DCEC deputy director general Priscilla Israel had reportedly told German that she had taken the files and that she had given them to ‘their owner’.
Responding to a recent questionnaire, the DIS public relations and protocol director, Edward Robert explained: “The DG has gone on record stating that the file or files relating to the alleged investigations on him by the DCEC was never the target in the DIS investigation of the DCEC. This is still the position of the DIS.” He, however, conceded: “We are aware of the claims to the contrary by a former employee of the DCEC. We hope since the matter is reported to be headed for the courts of law, the truth will come out and the Directorate will be vindicated.”
He described the DIS as a law-abiding institution of State and added: “The DIS investigation of the DCEC, enjoyed judicial authorisation. And when a law enforcement agency applies for authorisation to conduct a search, they state what they are looking for in order to convince the court to grant such authorisation.” He insists that the alleged files were never what the DIS was looking for. “The search is a transparent exercise, conducted under a watchful eye of an independent observer or observers. This is a fool proof system aimed at ensuring professionalism and accountability,” he concluded.