Keetshabe, Tiroyakgosi, Nlanda face imprisonment for contempt of court

Attorney General (AG) Abraham Keetshabe, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Stephen Tiroyakgosi and Receiver Bafi Nlanda face imprisonment for contempt of court after disobeying a court order to release P82 million to Bakang Seretse and company.Bakang Seretse is implicated in the National Petroleum Fund. P250 million corruption cases. Most of his properties were restrained by the state. Last week Judge Ketlogetswe ordered for the release of his money which is currently in the possession of the “Receiver”.

Seretse’s lawyer, Kgosietsile Ngakaagae has made an urgent application asking the court to order the arrest of the Attorney General, The Director of Public Prosecution and the Receiver for being in contempt of court and to keep them in prison until they comply with the court order of the 4^th November 2020 (UAHGB 000202/2020)“.

Should the applicants not obey the court order by close of businesses of the 6^th November 2020, a deputy sheriff of court is authorized to sign for the transfer of all properties including amounts held by the Receiver and the 3^rd respondents thereof with whatever institutions and in whatever bank accounts may be necessary and for other no monetary properties to seize same and hand the same to the applicant,’’ said Ngakaagae.

In his application, Ngakaagae prayed for orders declaring the respondents (AG, DPP and Receiver) to be in contempt of court having willfully and without lawful or justification excuse, refused, failed or neglected to obey the court order issued by in case No UAHGB 000202/2020He said on the 4^th November the applicant obtained an order from Judge Ketlogetswe and that the order is specific in its terms and its content are incorporated, where the judge had directed the respondent to implement the court order within 24 hours. Ngakaagae said the respondents have failed to comply with the court order and are now in contempt of court.

He said it was urgent that the court order be obeyed as failure to do so would send the wrong message to the public that they can comply with same at own leisure and comfort and that would bring the administration of justice into disrepute and undermine the rule of law. He argued that contempt of court was an appropriate remedy for the violation as there was no other effective remedy to ensure compliance with the court order. The matter will be heard on Tuesday before Lobatse High Court Judge Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe.