Dear Editor
The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime wishes to set the record straight regarding an article carried in The Sunday Standard edition of April 22, 2007, under the heading “DCEC in alleged attempt to cover up corruption.”
The article not only imputes unprofessional conduct on the part of the DCEC but also accuses it of complicity, alleging that the DCEC was covering up a corruption case because the “corruption accused is their star witness in a high profile fraud and money laundering case involving local lawyers.”
The fact of the matter is that on April 19, 2007, a certain Morula Morula purporting to be reporting forThe Sunday Standard called the Director of DCEC, Mr. Tymon Katlholo, enquiring about a case of corruption allegedly involving a prison warder reported to the DCEC by a prisoner serving a term of imprisonment for stock theft in Francistown. In response to the enquiry, again as a matter of fact, the Director confirmed to Mr. Morula Morula that indeed there was such a report and that the DCEC was looking into it but the Director would not discuss its details lest investigations were compromised.
The Directorate has noted with utter surprise and regret that in publishing the story, and despite all the cooperation extended to the reporter by the Director and indeed confirmation of such a report, the newspaper report chose to ignore the very part that confirmed some action on the part of the DCEC and preferred to publish a one sided story which is not only misleading but also devoid of professional etiquette.
The Directorate would like to assure members of the public that as a matter of policy all reports alleging corruption irrespective of whoever is involved are subjected to the due process and given due attention until the contrary is proved.
The case in question is no exception.
The Directorate wishes to point out that bias and unbalanced reporting is not in the best interest of the public and urges the newspaper in question and Mr. Morula in particular to always balance their facts, unless they are pursuing their own agenda.
Yours Faithfully
Tymon Katlholo (Director ÔÇô DCEC)
