Thabo Lekwae, the prime suspect in the P17 million Central Medical Stores (CMS) fraud case, is hiding in South Africa because he believes the Botswana Defence Force military intelligence is out to assassinate him.
Lekwae told Sunday Standard that he has been warned that the military intelligence is baying for his blood.
The Botswana Police Service has issued a warrant for Lekwae’s arrest saying that they have unearthed fresh information linking some of the suspects in the P17 million CMS fraud case to a regional crime syndicate that also deals in stolen cars.
One of the suspects, Jabulane Thomas Johnson, is understood to have skipped bail on a counterfeit passport before he was arrested in South Africa while driving a stolen vehicle.
A few days after being granted bail by Gaborone Village Chief Magistrate Lot Moroka, Johnson skipped Botswana using a forged document and was arrested by the South African Police Service in Lehurutshe, North West Province.
He was arrested and detained and is expected to appear before court sometime this week.
In a brief telephone interview, South African Police Service spokesperson in North West, Superintendent Moses, confirmed the arrest but would not discuss details.
It is alleged that Johnson is linked to some regional criminal syndicates that operate between Botswana and South Africa, specializing in vehicle theft.
The Directorate of Public Prosecution is currently filing extradition papers so that the suspect can attend his trial that is scheduled to resume towards the end of the year.
It is understood that should his extradition take long, the DPP will apply for separation of trial.
Meanwhile in yet another development, one of the masterminds, Abraham Marumo, has handed himself to the police after hiding in South Africa for sometime.
