Forty year old Mohammed Sohail, a Pakistani national charged with illegally trying to export over M350 000 in March, told investigators three different stories when asked about the money, the Maseru Magistrate Court has learnt.

Chief Investigation Officer in the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO), Mr Thabiso Thibeli, told the Court when the case resumed on July 13 that when he initially interviewed Sohail at Moshoeshoe International Airport on March 9, this year, the latter said he was running a cellular shop, Home Videos, located at Victoria Hotel in Maseru, and that he was going to buy stock in Dubai.

The accused later changed his story, claiming he had arrived in the country the previous day, March 8, giving the name of his host. Sohail took him to Lithabaneng, where they met the man, who denied having hosted the accused. The alleged host said the accused stayed in Johannesburg. It was then that the accused confessed that he had arrived in the country that morning of March 9.

Sohail is represented by Advocate Dominic Metlae. The case, before Magistrate Mr Mojela Mothebe, is continuing.

14 July 2005