Attorney Kanjabanga faces theft charges
OLIVER MODISE
Staff Writer
| Thursday January 24, 2008 00:00
The matter is before village chief magistrate, Lot Moroka. Eight others charged alongside Kanjabanga include his secretary Boitshwarelo Moreemang, Kudzani Gaabopiwe, Ishmael Olekile, M K Capital Power and its managing director, Paul Mchenya, Mabone Ramalosa as well as Leketso Tumelo.
On the first count, Kanjabanga and Moreemang are alleged to have stolen a cheque of P399, 500. belonging to the Southern District Council (SDC) in January 2004.
Kanjabanga is alleged to have committed forgery by claiming that his law firm was being paid P399, 500.90 (Three hundred and ninety thousand five hundred pula and ninety -nine thebe) by SDC on the 8th of the same month.
Yesterday when the case was called Kanjabanga was not present in court as Boko apologised to Moroka that his client asked to be excused because he was attending a case before Chief Justice, Julian Nganunu.
Boko, who is also representing Moreemang proposed that the case be deferred to the High Court stating that he has filed a notice to take the Attorney General's office to the High Court over some constitutional issues related to this case.
Present in court were Moreemang, Kudzani Gaabopiwe, represented by Herbert Sikhakhane and Tumelo.
Moroka ruled for the court interpreter to read the trio the charges against them, but did not require them to plea.
Kanjabanga's third count is obtaining by false pretences and it is premised on allegations that he defrauded a branch of Barclays Bank in Lobatse by obtaining P399, 500.90 on the 23rd of February 2004 when he pretended that his law firm was receiving the money as payment from SDC.
The chronology of events surrounding the alleged cheque extends to 10 counts of money laundering on different dates against Kanjabanga in 2004. In the first instance, Kanjabanga and the third accused, Gaaboipiwe are alleged to have concealed P5, 000.On the 3rd of February 2004, Kanjabanga and Gaaboipiwe concealed P25, 000.
Kanjabanga is also accused of teaming up with the fourth accused, Olekile to conceal P2, 000 on the 3rd of March 2004. The money laundering charges also drag in Capital Power and its managing director, Mchenya who is alleged to have conspired with Kanjabanga to conceal P35, 000 on the 31st of April 2004.
Kanjabanga, Mchenya and Olekile are accused of concealing another P13, 000 on 2nd of February 2004.
An Additional money laundering count alleges that Kanjabanga, Mchenya and Capital Power buried a total of P105, 000 on the 29th of January 2004. Furthermore, Kanjabanga is accused of laundering another P2, 500 with Ramalosa and another P6, 000 with Tumelo on the 1st of March 2006.
State council, Monamo, told the court that the other accused persons were absent but they had been notified of the charges.
The case has been set for mention on the 15th of February.