Former Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli was in the pocket of Thabiso Moroahae, Tholo Energy boss. Tumisang Thahanyane doesn’t mention the commissioner by name but his description and the time of the events make it clear that he is referring to Commissioner Molibeli. Thahanyane says Tholo Energy “paid legal fees of the former police commissioner when he had challenges with the administration of” Prime Ministers Thomas Thabane and Moeketsi Majoro.
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He says the money would be withdrawn from the company’s account at the bank on Moroahae’s instruction and “given to (the) former police commissioner in cash”.
At the time, the former commissioner was still in office.
“He (the commissioner) would collect the money from our offices at ’Matanki House. The money came from under-declared fuel levies,” he said.
Thahanyane said at one time the police boss was handed M300 000 “in cash in my presence”.
He says when he asked Moroahae what the money was for, he was told that “it was to enable the former commissioner to purchase a vehicle”.
“I can confirm that he has since purchased such a vehicle and it is an Audi brand.”
He says Moroahae confided in him that the commissioner “was key to the business of Tholo in that he played a role in the grant of firearm licences”.
“When Thabiso (Moroahae) wanted to use force against business competitors, the police would not charge him for his illegal conduct.”
“For instance, he once asked the former commissioner of police to apprehend our competitors’ trucks for not being compliant with the Road Traffic Act Regulations, the operation which dismally failed.”
Thahanyane claims Moroahae used his corrupt relationship with Commissioner Molibeli to instigate the M40 million fraud and money laundering charges, against him. As a result of those charges the police launched a court application to seize Thahanyane’s assets on allegations that they are proceeds of crime.
It is in the affidavit to fight that application that Thahanyane reveals what he calls the crooked relationship between Commissioner Molibeli and Moroahae.
Thahanyane told the court that he was questioning how Tholo Energy was cheating the government when his boss, Thabiso Moroahae, went to the police behind his back to report that he had defrauded the company.
Admitting that he had played a part in the company’s rot of under-declaring fuel levies since 2015 when he joined it, he said his conscience began haunting him hence he implored Moroahae to discuss the extent to which they had become criminals.
“I was worried about my career if the whole thing were to be uncovered by the relevant authorities,” Thahanyane said in the affidavit.
“When Thabiso (Moroahae) became aware that I was steadfast that we should discuss these issues in a formal meeting he then rushed to the police under the pretext that he would not be able to convene the meeting due to a personal emergency,” he said.
“I discovered that he used that as a trick to report me to the police and to request the police to ensure that I was arrested before I could spill the beans, ie revealing that Tholo contravened tax laws and under-declared fuel levies, which were later used for the personal benefit of Thabiso (Moroahae).”
The commissioner, through the Counter Commercial Crime Unit, asked the court to order the seizure of his properties on account that they were proceeds of crime.
At the time, the former commissioner was still in office.
“He (the commissioner) would collect the money from our offices at ’Matanki House. The money came from under-declared fuel levies,” he said.
Thahanyane said at one time the police boss was handed M300 000 “in cash in my presence”.
He says when he asked Moroahae what the money was for, he was told that “it was to enable the former commissioner to purchase a vehicle”.
“I can confirm that he has since purchased such a vehicle and it is an Audi brand.”
He says Moroahae confided in him that the commissioner “was key to the business of Tholo in that he played a role in the grant of firearm licences”.
“When Thabiso (Moroahae) wanted to use force against business competitors, the police would not charge him for his illegal conduct.”
“For instance, he once asked the former commissioner of police to apprehend our competitors’ trucks for not being compliant with the Road Traffic Act Regulations, the operation which dismally failed.”
Thahanyane claims Moroahae used his corrupt relationship with Commissioner Molibeli to instigate the M40 million fraud and money laundering charges, against him. As a result of those charges the police launched a court application to seize Thahanyane’s assets on allegations that they are proceeds of crime.
It is in the affidavit to fight that application that Thahanyane reveals what he calls the crooked relationship between Commissioner Molibeli and Moroahae.
Thahanyane told the court that he was questioning how Tholo Energy was cheating the government when his boss, Thabiso Moroahae, went to the police behind his back to report that he had defrauded the company.
Admitting that he had played a part in the company’s rot of under-declaring fuel levies since 2015 when he joined it, he said his conscience began haunting him hence he implored Moroahae to discuss the extent to which they had become criminals.
“I was worried about my career if the whole thing were to be uncovered by the relevant authorities,” Thahanyane said in the affidavit.
“When Thabiso (Moroahae) became aware that I was steadfast that we should discuss these issues in a formal meeting he then rushed to the police under the pretext that he would not be able to convene the meeting due to a personal emergency,” he said.
“I discovered that he used that as a trick to report me to the police and to request the police to ensure that I was arrested before I could spill the beans, ie revealing that Tholo contravened tax laws and under-declared fuel levies, which were later used for the personal benefit of Thabiso (Moroahae).”
The commissioner, through the Counter Commercial Crime Unit, asked the court to order the seizure of his properties on account that they were proceeds of crime.
Staff Reporter
