Setswana teacher charged for lying

OARABILE MOSIKARE
Correspondent | Wednesday February 27, 2008 00:00

The 41 year old, Alfred Morapedi, appeared briefly before Chief Magistrate, Lorraine Makati-Lesang to confirm his trial date.

Morapedi's case has since been referred to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for trial. Morapedi told the court that Langwane Mmekwa Attorneys will represent him.

Prosecutions counsel, Reneetswe Rabosotho, represented the state. Chief Magistrate Lesang told the suspect to appear for mention on April 3 and set trial date for December 1. But she assured Morapedi that he is likely to get an early trial if his attorneys would attend the next mention date.

Morapedi is charged with two counts of giving false information to persons employed in the public service.

It is alleged that on 4 November, 1994 in Francistown he gave one Nelson Joti being a police officer information that he previously possessed a driver's licence number 72636 when in fact the licence was lawfully issued to Motsamai Mogotsi, which information he knew or believed to be false and thereby caused the said officer to commission his application for a duplicate driver's licence which the said officer ought not to have commissioned if the true state of facts were known to him.

On the second count, the state alleges that Morapedi, on the same date in Francistown gave Pearl Kasweka being a transport officer information that he previously possessed a driver's licence number 72636 when in fact the said licence was lawfully issued to Motsamai Mogotsi, which information he knew or believed to be false and thereby caused the said officer to issue him a duplicate driver's licence number 00118905, which the officer ought not to have issued him if the true state of facts were known to her.