Indisposed Zakhem misses court in P272.3m case
Indisposed Zakhem misses court in P272.3m case
State Prosecutor Ambrose Mubika told the Gaborone Regional Magistrate’s Court that defence counsel, Lore Moraledi had informed the State that Zakhem could not attend proceedings due to his ill health.“We have been informed by counsel Moraledi that Zakhem is not before this court on an account of him being unwell,” Mubika said.Mubika told court that they believe that to be the truth despite not being furnished with medical records. “We have no reason to dispute what he has placed before us and the court I understand,” Mubika said.This follows a report last week by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) week that Zakhem could not be served with summons as he was out of the country.The matter was set down for arraignment, with the State proposing that the other accused persons proceed in Zakhem’s absence. However, Mubika asked the court to defer the recording of pleas to a later date.Thiithe, and his company Thiithe Rubble Screeners (Pty) Ltd alonsgside Kagiso Nthaga, Tumelo Mbaiwa, Portia Gilika and Haas Consult Southern Region Africa (Proprietary) Limited are facing 12 counts, including obtaining by false pretences, making documents without authority, cheating, corruption-related offences and money laundering.At the centre of the allegations is the claim that Thiithe’s company, Thite Rubble Screeners (Pty) Ltd, was used to front for Zakhem’s Zac Construction (Pty) Ltd to secure the tender because the latter was allegedly not citizen-owned and did not qualify to bid.The case alleges that the accused acted together to obtain P272,378,310.96 from the Central District Council through false pretences in connection with the Tutume Infrastructure Project, funded under the Economic Stimulus Programme.On bail, Mubika told the court that the State was not opposed to the accused being admitted to bail by consent, subject to the court’s approval.The accused were granted State non-opposed bail, binding themselves with P10,000 each.
The State also proposed that each accused provide two competent Botswana citizen sureties who would bind themselves in the like sum.The matter was postponed to November 20 for mention, by which time the State expects to have served the defence with witness statements and exhibits.Mubika also proposed transferring the matter to a district closer to Tutume, suggesting Letlhakane, Serowe or Francistown as possible venues.The defence objected to considering the transfer at this stage, arguing that it was premature because they had not yet received the case documents.