[September 22, 2009] Music Producer Fights Possible 5-Year Jail Term Tweet Sep 22, 2009 (Mmegi/The Reporter/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- One of the leading music producers in the country, Robert Dargie, a Ugandan resident in Botswana, was on Friday arraigned before Broadhurst Magistrate Court facing criminal charges relating to swapping of hologram devices, a crime that carries a five-year jail term under the Copyright Act. In fact the producer who made hits such as Franco's Ke Lela Le Lona, Mokorwana Cultural group and also helped Wizards of the Desert to redefine their music style into a hot house kwasa act, escaped jail by a whisker, after the prosecution failed to show why he should be remanded in custody. Dargie was charged along with his wife Catherine, and investor in the project Ivy Salim. Magistrate Nokuthula Moyo ordered that the accused pay P15000 for their bail, and house kwasa star Odirile Vee Sento and music promoter Mox, immediately pledged to act as sureties. Magistrate Moyo ordered Dargie to surrender his travel documents to the G-West Police, and report there every Friday morning. He was also ordered not to travel a distance of more than 100km from Gaborone without informing the Botswana Police. His next mention date is October 29. Meanwhile, prosecutor Thabo Malambane insisted that Dargie should be locked up pending investigations. He argued that Dargie is a Ugandan and that once he skips the country, Kampala would not cooperate to have him extradited. Malambane also argued that the prosecution still needs to investigate a number of facts, and so while continuing with those investigations, the accused man should be remanded in custody. Malambane also said that he still wanted to ascertain whether Dargie was staying in the country legally, whether he was a permanent resident, or his resident permit was just about to expire. He also said he wants to investigate whether the magistrate's court has the jurisdiction to handle the matter whose maximum fine is P5 million. The prosecutor also prayed that a warrant of arrest be issued against Dargie's wife, Catherine who was not in Court. The Magistrate did not make a ruling on the prayer nevertheless.The prosecution had also applied that Dargie should stand the trial alone without the other two accused since he is the director of the company Dargie Advertising, but the magistrate refused to grant the prayer, saying she needs all the three directors of the company. According to the prosecution, Dargie is facing two counts both regarding the swapping of a hologram device. He is accused of transferring hologram BW 150 000-1590, belonging to Gaone Tshoganetso's DVD, Chobolo, to Ntsoro le Toki DVD Part 2, Makanyane DVD, and Mamenemene DVDs. In another charge, Dargie is accused of transferring hologram BW 135000-165 000 being for Shumba Ratshega's Kuka Ntsu music, to Ntsoro le Toki Part 2, Makanyane DVD and O Bone O Ja Sereto DVD. Dargie has denied the charges. Dargie was represented by Bhekimpilo Moyo of Collin Duncan Attorneys. The crime is said to have been committed in May this year. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]