As investigations in alleged corruption by former Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Guma Moyo and Minister of youth Sports and Culture Thapelo Olopeng ground to a halt, state and defence lawyers were both pointing accusing fingers.
Lawyers representing the two politicians accused the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) of delaying the investigations while the state lawyers accused the defence of frustrating the investigations.
Member of Parliament for Tati East, Samson Guma Moyo is being investigated for money laundering, living beyond his means and uttering false documents.
”We served them with a notice which demands them to provide the investigating officer with audited financial statement, income capital and fixed assets amongst others but they have refused and this process alone delays the investigations,” said Mpho Letsoalo.
Moses Kadye who is representing Moyo said the state investigators were delaying investigations by demanding documents which dated back as far as 2008 and have nothing to do with the corruption case.
He told the court that the state officers were not tell the court the whole truth as they had indicated that they were still to contact their counterparts and access the diplomatic channel to investigate some transactions which took place in Zimbabwe,” so in this regard who is delaying the process?”, asked Kadye
Kadye revealed that the notice has spread to other companies which were initially not part of the application before court and had nothing to do with the case.
He said the state should indicate when they are going to stop freezing Moyo’s accounts arguing that the freezing should not be indefinite.
”But if there is a structure to carry investigations on the whole life of Moyo, the investigations have now gone far and this is wrong because the investigations have gone outside the purpose of the investigation. It’s strange to learn that the state is now accusing us although all the records and relevant documents relating to the matter are available, ”said Kadye
Attorney Pusoetsile representing, Minister of Youth Sports and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng shared the same sentiments.
”I’m shocked at how the DCEC and DPP are conducting this matter because I can see they are attempting to catch a big fish in a dry dam. It is clear that the Investigating officer (IO) wanted to investigate, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Thapelo Olopeng but what is disturbing is their behavior to solicit information rather than to approach companies implicated in the matter.
Olopeng has ceased from being part of IRB Transport Company which is at the centre of the corruption investigations, “but the notice demands documents dating as far as 2008, and this is unfair”, said Pusoetsile.
The case was postponed to 22 January for the state to update the court on the progress of their investigations.
