GABORONE A Botswana magistrates court last week stopped a Zimbabwean businessman, Patrick Dowera, from travelling to Zimbabwe for Christmas because he has pending fraud charges.
Dowera, who is managing director of Landscape Decorators, is at the centre of a share certificate scam that has allegedly defrauded scores people of millions of pula. In blocking Dowera from travelling over Christmas, Magistrate Barnabas Nyamazhabo upheld the states argument that once there is reasonable belief that the accused had committed an offence, his liberty could be restricted.
Nyamadzabo ruled that if Dowera wanted to enjoy the festive season with his family, he could make arrangements for them to visit him in Botswana. The magistrate also ordered that Dowera’s travel documents should not be released to him until conclusion of the case against him.
However, Dowera may travel within Botswana without first seeking permission from Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), but he must report to the directorates investigating officers once fortnightly. Dowera is facing five counts of obtaining by false pretences.
Post published in: News