- Botswana Prison Service to cleanse ranks of corrupt officers
- Officers suspected of engaging in “dirty dealings”
Amidst mounting allegations of corruption within the Botswana Prison Service (BPS), a significant number of prison personnel are facing suspension as investigations into illicit activities intensify. Reports indicate that the BPS’s newly established intelligence division has compiled a dossier of staff and inmates implicated in various corrupt practices within the prison system.
Approximately 100 prison officials have emerged as central figures in an ongoing inquiry, exposing a complex network of corruption that threatens the institution’s integrity. The intelligence unit, inaugurated last year under the tenure of former Commissioner Dinah Marathe, has been pivotal in unearthing these entrenched corrupt activities. Led by Colonel Mautenyane Mautenyane, this unit has been instrumental in unveiling illicit dealings, including accusations against newly promoted officers believed to be involved in “dirty dealings.”
Reports suggest that BPS Commissioner Anthony Mokento is profoundly disheartened by these revelations and has vowed to enact decisive measures against the implicated officers. At one juncture, the commissioner reportedly halted the announcement of recent promotions upon discovering that several nominees under consideration were under investigation. Legal counsel was sought to determine whether to exclude these officers from the promotional list, yet the announcements proceeded, encompassing individuals linked to corrupt activities.
Addressing rumors of resignations, BPS spokesperson Senior Superintendent Oagile Kojane refuted claims that a senior officer stationed at the First Offender Prison in Gaborone had submitted his resignation. “BPS has not received any resignation from the alleged officer,” Kojane stated, emphasizing that the ongoing investigations complicate efforts to ascertain the final number of implicated officers.
It is alleged that the primary suspect officer was apprehended and subsequently released by police, having been found in possession of cellphones and SIM cards intended for smuggling into various prison facilities nationwide.
This scandal surfaces shortly after a previous report by this publication exposed a scheme involving judicial and prison officials purportedly conspiring to issue fraudulent liberation warrants for a fee. Several inmates were allegedly released using these counterfeit documents, adding yet another layer of controversy to the BPS’s operations.
