
Kgosietsile Ngakaagae, the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP and former attorney, has responded to accusations from 132 officers of the Directorate on Intelligence and Security DIS. Ngakaagae described the officers as ungrateful for refusing to pay a heavily discounted legal bill. He and his former firm had secured tens of thousands of Pula in salary arrears for them. Ngakaagae stated that the four-year legal battle was fought largely on charity, and he had slashed his fees by 90%. The dispute arose when DIS erroneously paid settlement monies directly to the officers instead of into the trust account of Ngakaagae and Company, leaving the firm with unrecovered costs. DIS subsequently agreed to pay the firm an equivalent sum and recover it from staff salaries, a move the officers have challenged as an unlawful intrusion into a private attorney-client relationship.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Mmegi.
Must ReadA recent National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment report reveals that wildlife crime in Botswana has become a significant source of illicit financial flows. The estimated lifetime value of elephants and rhinos poached between 2020 and 2024 is P12.4 billion. The report indicates that global mafia gangs are involved, allegedly collaborating with individuals within anti-poaching units, leading to billions of pula being siphoned out of the country through illegal channels.
Must ReadThe Botswana Democratic Party BDP is experiencing growing internal divisions concerning a proposal to extend the central committee's mandate from two to five years. What began as a constitutional submission has escalated into a significant point of contention, revealing mistrust and conflicting interests within the party. The dispute centers on submissions from some regions advocating for substantial amendments to the party's constitution, which some members believe are influenced by certain central committee members. Political observers suggest that such internal disputes could have long-term consequences for the party.
Must ReadLawyers representing businessman Bakang Seretse and four co-accused in the National Petroleum Fund NPF criminal case have formally challenged the authority of the prosecution team and the timing of the charges. Mack Buhuma Attorneys and Motswagole & Company, acting for Seretse, Sharifah Noor, Alphonse Ndiznge, Kgori Capital Pty Ltd, and Kgori Holdings Pty Ltd, sent a legal letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The letter argues that the ongoing criminal proceedings before the Regional Magistrates’ Court in Gaborone are unlawful and should be stopped. The case, currently pending at the Broadhurst Magistrates’ court, stems from investigations into the handling of funds linked to the NPF.
Must ReadBotswana's economy experienced an estimated loss of close to P1 billion due to corruption in both the public and private sectors from 2020 to 2024. These figures, the first of their kind released in the country, come from the national dirty money watchdog. During this period, Botswana's ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index declined from 35th out of 180 countries in 2020 to 43rd out of 180 countries in 2024. The National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment Report, recently released by the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority NBIFRA, provided this initial estimate of corruption's cost. Researchers identified corruption as a prevalent money-laundering threat, noting that it generated substantial illicit proceeds and allowed criminals to exploit public institutions and conceal illegal fund movements.