Former Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Carter Nkatla Morupisi, will serve seven years in prison following a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Gaborone. The decision, delivered by Justice Singh Walia, concluded a high-profile corruption and money laundering case that has captured national attention.

The Court of Appeal reviewed Morupisi’s initial sentences handed down by the High Court, which included suspended prison terms and monetary fines, deeming them inadequate for the gravity of the offenses. The court exercised its authority to enhance the penalties under Rule 32(2) of the Court of Appeal Rules and Section 325 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

Morupisi was convicted on two counts of corruption under the Corruption and Economic Crime Act (CECA) and one count of money laundering under the Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Act. These charges stemmed from his tenure as Board Chairperson of the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund (BPOPF).

The court found that Morupisi abused his position by authorizing a controversial contract between BPOPF and Capital Management Botswana (CMB) without the board’s resolution or due diligence. This agreement led to the misappropriation of nearly P400 million from pensioners’ funds. As part of the corrupt dealings, Morupisi accepted a gold Toyota Land Cruiser, valued at R630,988.99, as a bribe.

In his judgment, Justice Walia highlighted the egregious nature of Morupisi’s actions, stating that they “strike at the very foundation of a developing country’s economy.” He emphasized the devastating impact of white-collar crimes on public trust and economic stability, noting that Morupisi’s actions caused irreparable harm to pensioners whose funds were siphoned away.

Justice Walia acknowledged the mitigating factors, including Morupisi’s age and clean record before this case, but stated that these could not outweigh the aggravating circumstances. The court described the offenses as “catastrophic” and emphasized the need for a sentence that reflected the gravity of the crimes.

Revised Sentences

The Court of Appeal replaced the High Court’s original penalties with the following:

• Count 1 (Corruption under Section 24A of CECA): 18 months’ imprisonment.
• Count 2 (Corruption under Section 26 of CECA): Five years’ imprisonment.
• Count 3 (Money laundering under Section 47(1)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime Act): Seven years’ imprisonment.

The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Morupisi will serve a total of seven years in prison. The court also ordered the refund of fines paid under the initial judgment and upheld the forfeiture of the Toyota Land Cruiser to the state.