Africa-Press – Botswana. In what could be one of the most high profile corruption cases the country ever seen , the state is likely to charge former Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi with corruption, money laundering and possession of unexplained property.
According to an affidavit deposed by an investigator at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), the investigators have uncovered money trail and properties which they believe the former minister acquired illegally, during his tenure as the minister responsible.
Investigators say after being appointed a minister in 2019, it meant that he was at the helm of parastatals that fall under his ministry, particularly Botswana Power Corporation (BPC).
As the minister responsible Moagi had full access to BPC’s accounting books, future revenue and expenditure just to mention but a few. Sometime in 2024 Moagi allegedly approached a Chinese firm, Sieyuan Electric Botswana (Pty) Limited, a company that deals with construction of electrical substations.
The company, had BPC as its client, they also had a contract to upgrade the Government enclave substation as well as Sua Pan Substation. During that time the former minister had interest in buying 100 heifers and a bull from a farmer in Gantsi. The total sale was to be P 400, 000.00 for the heifers and P17, 500 for the bull.
Whilst waiting for payment from Moagi, the Gantsi farmer instead received payment from a certain Lin Han and later a certain Jeremy Holiday. Moagi allegedly sent proof of payment via WatsApp to the farmer who then started the process of transporting the cattle to Moagi.
According to the investigation Moagi had approached the Chinese businessmen to pay for the cattle on his behalf, the Chinese businessmen later on allegedly became uncomfortable with the deal, as by now Moagi was no longer a minister after government change.
“The conduct of Mr Lefoko Maxwell Lefoko in getting money from an entity, which his Ministry had direct dealings, proceeded to use the money for his personal gain and amassing properties as he did amounts to corruption,” reads the investigators affidavit.
Sill on the former minister, the investigators say another company called New Energy Company (Pty) Ltd, which had been issued with licences for base metals in Gantsi, Tsabong and Tutume districts by Moagi , deposited money amounting to P3, 705, 000 to another company called Wisecreatives investment (Pty) Ltd, on dates between May and October 2024.
Wisecreatives investment (Pty) Ltd owned by the same Chinese that own New Energy would then give Moagi the companies debit card for his personal benefit.
The investigations have uncovered that the former Minister would then use a bank card belonging to wisecreatives for his personal use to amongst others buy cattle feeds,to pay for school fees and building materials. During a search at his house, the same bank card was retrieved at the former minister’s home in Ramotswa.
The investigators believe that instead of giving money directly to Moagi , the Chinese instead used their second company as the middle man to hide the true source of the money.
In the end the head of Directorate Of Public Prosecution (DPP) Kgosietsile Ngaakagae states that after preliminary investigation there is reasonable suspicion that Moagi was involved in corrupt activities using public funds. According to the DPP , Moagi had no lawful jurisdiction to be receiving money and assets from entities that had direct or indirect dealings with his Ministry.
“The length to which Mr Lefoko Maxwell Moagi went in to disguise the sources of the monies that were used to buy cattle speaks volumes about the serious crimes or the criminal related activities he was involved in,” the DPP stated in his affidavit.
Efforts to reach Moagi for a comment failed as he indicated to our reporter he has nothing to say.
Source: Mmegi Online
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