Suspected Furnmart fraudster nabbed

The long arm of the law has finally caught up with an alleged habitual fraudster after he was nabbed and arraigned before court for defrauding a Molepolole Furnmart store. Last week as Elias Mokhwae (42), was hauled before a Molepolole Magistrates court for using fake documents to acquire property from Mafenyatlala Furnmart store, prosecutors told court that the furniture company database revealed more evidence suggesting that he had been on the rampage swindling other Furnmart stores in Ramotswa, Gaborone and Mochudi. According to court documents, Mokhwae on December 8th, 2022 at Mafenyatlala mall, knowingly obtained properties belonging to Furnmart Botswana by means of presenting false identity card and pay slip by the names of Kabo Morupisi to obtain black Hisense fridge, Hisense TV and Samsung A13 cellphone, all valued at P29, 729. Though the incident occurred last year December the matter was reported to Molepolole police on March 8th, 2023 after the Furnmart management received information from Ramotswa Furnmart that Mokhwae was arrested while trying to defraud them. When checking on the system Ramotswa Furnmart branch realised that Mokhwae had collected various items through hire purchase from Molepolole Furnmart. Upon thorough investigations by Ramotswa police they managed to recover all the items collected from Molepolole Furnmart except the cellphone. It is alleged that after hire purchase was approved by Molepolole Furnmart, the items were delivered at Mokhwae’s place and he failed to pay his instalments for December and January as agreed. Later on, when he was contacted by the furniture store he claimed to be financially constrained, promising to pay after his bank loan was approved. While waiting for payment, the Molepolole Furnmart management learnt that their client had been arrested. State prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Motshwari Mokamogo, pleaded with the court to remand Mokhwae in custody as investigations were still at an initial stage with the investigating officer yet to search for the origin of the documents which were presented to Furnmart in obtaining credit. He further told the court that the accused is the only one to assist with investigations to find the properties and also that there was another suspect still at large. When given the chance to speak, Mokhwae speaking loudly requested the court to grant him bail, noting that he had submitted all the necessary evidence to the Investigating Officer (IO). “Only the cellphone is missing and I explained that I have sold it, I will buy it and hand it to Furnmart. There is no any other suspect, I told the IO that I committed this crime alone, I don’t know which other person he is referring to,” explained the outspoken Mokhwae. Upon hearing the accused, Principal Magistrate Solomon Setshedi called the IO, Detective Seargent Odikana Simon, to take a stand. Detective Simon who was casually dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt was however told to step down as he was not appropriately dressed for court. The Magistrate granted the accused a P1 000 conditional bail and ordered him to provide two sureties who would each bind themselves with the same amount. The suspect reportedly also has similar cases before Broadhurst and Mochudi police station. He will be back for mention before court on May 30th, 2023.

TheVoiceBW

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Suspected Furnmart fraudster nabbed

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