CMC fraud case trial to admit witnesses

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Thursday February 25, 2010 00:00

The case is appearing for mention today.

The CMS case involves 11 suspects, who are alleged to have obtained more than P20 million from the Botswana government by falsely pretending that they had supplied the Ministry of Health with pharmaceutical drugs.

Clement Molefe and Bushy Nthibo are jointly charged with Jabulani Johnson, Norman Maja, Aaron Babolele, Lebogang Kaisara, David Tumagole (not former prison officer), Otsile Mosarwa, Bee Nfala, Patrick Cole, and Abram Marumo. All the accused persons are out on bail except Johnson and Tumagole.

While Johnson is currently in police custody because of the suspicion that he might skip bail, Tumagole has been convicted of two separate crimes by the High Court. He is serving five years for armed robbery and nine years for murder with extenuating circumstances.

The CMS case was thrown in disarray sometime last year when two of the defence attorneys, Dick Bayford and Unoda Mack threatened to withdraw.  The defence team comprises of messrs Tebogo Sebego, Duma Boko, Bayford and Mack while the prosecution team is led by Phadi Solomon and Thabo Malambane.

Meanwhile, the case against members of the Bakwena royal will come before Molepolole Magistrate Court today.Kabo Sebele, Kgosimotse Sebele, Motlhabatsatsi Nkonyane appeared before Magistrate Nehemiah Mnguni last month charged with a single count of threatening the life of an individual. While Kabo was the only one of the three initially denied bail, he got his respite last week when he successfully appealed his case before Lobatse High Court judge Justice David Newman who granted him conditional bail.