Africa-Press – Botswana. The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) director-general is mum about his return home following the Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS) sealing his office off last Tuesday, while away on a trip in Rwanda. DIS officers are on high alert for his arrival as they want access to his office.
Last Wednesday, DCEC issued a press release announcing that DIS officers sealed two offices off at the corruption-busting agency. These are the director-general, Katlholo’s office and that of an unnamed staffer.
“The director-general and staff officer are currently in Rwanda attending the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa (AACACA) scheduled for May 3 to 6,” DCEC public relations officer Lentswe Motshoganetsi wrote.
While sources from within the DCEC claim that Katlholo was billed to land on Saturday, a day after his meeting, he had not arrived on the day as alluded. However, in a telephonic interview, Katlholo who is usually not media-shy, declined to comment. Quizzed whether he was home, Katlholo said he was not back yet and said he could not reveal his return date as yet.
This publication has learnt that the DIS will be on the lookout to arrest and detain Katlholo upon his arrival, probably in a similar fashion as Isaac Kgosi’s airport terminal arrest soon after touchdown. The former spy chief is demanding P50 million from the State for the alleged unlawful arrest and wrongful detention that took place at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in January 2019 upon returning from India.
DIS public relations officer, Edward Robert said they would like to access Katlholo’s office at the earliest possible time. “We have sealed [off] the offices because of an ongoing lawful investigation. We are looking to access the offices so we can search and obtain what we are looking for. We are looking to access the offices at the earliest possible time hence we have sealed them [off],” he said.
DCEC spokesperson Lentswe Motshoganetsi told this publication that they had expected Katlholo back in the country on Saturday. “We expected him to arrive yesterday, i am not aware of his current whereabouts and will communicate once i have established that,” he said.
The raid is said to be concerning the ongoing investigation into the alleged missing ‘arms of war’. Insiders have revealed that “at the centre of the investigations are files opened by the DCEC investigators against former president Ian Khama who is facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms alongside Kgosi.”
Katlholo is facing allegations that he killed all efforts by his investigators probing the duo of Khama and Kgosi. The DCEC DG further faces allegations that he has refused to act on anything that implicates the duo of Khama and Kgosi.
Amongst notable figures who have been ‘questioned’ by DIS are the Khama twin brothers, Tshekedi and Anthony, Tshekedi’s wife, Thea Khama, former BURS commissioner-general Ken Morris, Police Commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe, and former DCEC boss, Victor Paledi.
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