News / Africa
2 Zimbabweans in US bankcards 'theft case' in Botswana
18 Jun 2015 at 15:20hrs | Views
A Botswana court is left with only two witnesses in a case in which two Zimbabwean men allegedly stole money from American bank customers, says the prosecution.
The state alleges that Tendai Gwatu, 27, and Godfrey Marecha, 28, were found in possession of P125,923,80, suspected to be proceeds of stolen property in April 2012 in Francistown.
The state also alleges that the accused were found in possession of 14 debit cards belonging to Bank Corp customers in the United States of America (US) that they used to withdraw money from Barclays Bank and First National Bank Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
Chief public prosecutor Gasemotho Pitlagano yesterday informed the court that only the investigations officer and a witness based in the US are left to testify in the matter. Pitlagano said the US based witness would testify via video conferencing. He said that the state would issue a notice of application to the defence for the witnesses to testify via video conferencing on June 30 and then take the case from there.
Another state witness, Miso Olefile, testified that on April 19, in 2012 she worked for Barclays as an administration supervisor. She said that she discovered that some foreign bankcards were used to withdraw money at two of their ATMs at the plaza.
The defence counsel Farasai Fuzwayo told Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi that he had nothing to ask Olefile. He however, pleaded with the court to allow his clients who are out on bail to appear in court for mention on August 21.
The prosecution had previously informed the court that it suspects that the accused obtained the cards from their uncle who lives in the US. However, the prosecution explained that he (the uncle) would not come to Botswana to give evidence because Gaborone and Washington do not have an extradition treaty. According to Pitlagano, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has helped them to establish who the real owners of the cards are. In addition, the state said that the legitimate owners of the cards are mostly based in the US city of Dallas, Texas.
The state alleges that Tendai Gwatu, 27, and Godfrey Marecha, 28, were found in possession of P125,923,80, suspected to be proceeds of stolen property in April 2012 in Francistown.
The state also alleges that the accused were found in possession of 14 debit cards belonging to Bank Corp customers in the United States of America (US) that they used to withdraw money from Barclays Bank and First National Bank Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
Chief public prosecutor Gasemotho Pitlagano yesterday informed the court that only the investigations officer and a witness based in the US are left to testify in the matter. Pitlagano said the US based witness would testify via video conferencing. He said that the state would issue a notice of application to the defence for the witnesses to testify via video conferencing on June 30 and then take the case from there.
Another state witness, Miso Olefile, testified that on April 19, in 2012 she worked for Barclays as an administration supervisor. She said that she discovered that some foreign bankcards were used to withdraw money at two of their ATMs at the plaza.
The defence counsel Farasai Fuzwayo told Principal Magistrate Dumisani Basupi that he had nothing to ask Olefile. He however, pleaded with the court to allow his clients who are out on bail to appear in court for mention on August 21.
The prosecution had previously informed the court that it suspects that the accused obtained the cards from their uncle who lives in the US. However, the prosecution explained that he (the uncle) would not come to Botswana to give evidence because Gaborone and Washington do not have an extradition treaty. According to Pitlagano, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has helped them to establish who the real owners of the cards are. In addition, the state said that the legitimate owners of the cards are mostly based in the US city of Dallas, Texas.
Source - mmegi
