The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, on Monday, raided Limkokwing University offices to investigate a possible conflict of interest after the University sourced legal services from Education
Minister, Unity Dow’s law firm.
TSAONE SEGAETSHO
On Monday this week the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) raided Limkokwing University of Technology campus offices in an investigation on issues of possible conflict of interest between the university and Minister of Education, Unity Dow, involving a lucrative contract in which the Minister’s law firm was engaged to provide legal services.
Reliable information reaching The Botswana Gazette says after this publication revealed early this month that Dow and Associates was under the pay roll of Limkokwing University, the corruption-busting DCEC started probing the university.
This publication also revealed that Dow and Associates and Limkokwing University had reached an agreement which saw the firm providing legal services which came at a P25 000 retainer payable monthly for four months.
Dow avoided responding to these allegations when the story was first published, while the university confirmed the business relationship. This development according to The Botswana Gazette investigations may raise issues of conflict of interest as Dow and Associates represents Limkokwing University, which is under Dow’s portfolio as Minister of Education.
“The university has received communication from DCEC informing it of the intention to investigate it in regard to its link with Dow and Associates. The university leadership has also received questions from DCEC and it has responded to the questions on their connection with Minister Dow,” said a source close to the development.
This publication could however not confirm whether Dow and Associates and Minister Dow had received questions from DCEC. Dow did not respond to this publication’s inquiry on the matter for two weeks.
Limkokwing University did not confirm or deny being investigated by DCEC, and avoided commenting on the issue. “Due to the university’s internal corporate governance policies kindly note that we are unable to respond to your questions on a public platform,” Limkokwing University Publicity Office told this publication in an interview.
DCEC was also cagey to respond to The Botswana Gazette questions saying “It is not in the nature of the DCEC to share information about investigations against an individual(s),” said the DCEC’s Principal Public Relations Officer who declined to reveal whether they were investigating Dow or not.
Section 31(1) of the Corruption and Economic Crime, says a member or an employee of a public body is guilty of corruption if he or an immediate member of his family has a direct or indirect interest in any company or undertaking with which such body proposes to deal, or he has a personal interest in any decision which such body is to make, and he, knowingly, fails to disclose the nature of such interest, or votes or participates in the proceedings of such body relating to such dealing or decision.