Probe International

October 11, 2002

Toronto, October 11: Arguments were heard this week in Lesotho’s High Court during the sentencing trial of Acres International, the Canadian engineering multinational convicted last month of bribing a public official in the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority in order to secure work on that country’s US$8-billion dam scheme. Acres plans to appeal that decision.

Counsel for Acres suggested in this week’s sentencing trial that an appropriate fine would be 2 million maloti (equivalent to Cdn$305,000) while the prosecution argued for a 25 million fine (equivalent to Cdn$3.8 million). The Honourable Justice M.L. Lehohla requested more time to consider Acres’ sentence, which he is now expected to give on October 28.

For more information and comment, CONTACT:
Patricia Adams, Executive Director, Probe International
Tel.:1(416)964-9223 (ext. 227)
E-mail: patriciaadams@nextcity.com

To read Justice Lehohla’s full Judgment please see:

Click to access JugdmentAcres.pdf