SABC
December 19, 2002

Lesotho in bid to stamp-out corruption December 19, 2002, 20:45 SABC

The Lesotho government has set-up an anti-corruption department to root-out corruption in that country.

This follows acceptance of bribery amounting to R6 million by Masupha Sole, the former CEO of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, from international companies bidding for projects related to the Katse dam.

Sole was bribed by the British, Canadian, French, Germany and American contractors to work at the lucrative Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. He is currently languishing in jail, serving an 18-year jail term. In a desperate move to get out of jail, he applied to the Lesotho High Court citing that a South African Judge presiding over his case was not properly appointed. He has lost the case with costs.

According to the Lesotho’s Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs, this case should serve as a wake-up call for all Basotho nationals that the arm of the law is long.

“The whole saga about this bribery case has the effect of sending a clear message to those who are or would wish to be involved in corruption or corruption practices as it were that Lesotho is beginning to show some zero tolerance towards such corrupt practices. So that is the message that this whole process must send, especially to public functionalists that is, holders of public office,” sats, Tsokolo Makhethe, the Deputy Attorney-General of Lesotho.

Hae Phoofolo, Sole’s legal representative, meanwhile says they are not happy with the judgement and are in the process of appealing. “It is encumbent upon us that this matter be taken to the Court of Appeal for a final decision regards thereto. Interestingly enough, even the other side of government lawyers are keen and agreeable that this matter should be referred to the court of appeal for a final decision because it touches on the constitutional issue, relating to the independence of the judiciary in Lesotho,” he says.

If Sole wins the appeal in three months’ time, he will be a free man. However, coming home to nothing as his luxurious mansion at one of the affluent suburbs in Maseru, together with a fleet of expensive cars including furniture, have all been auctioned.

December 19, 2002, 20:45 SABC

The Lesotho government has set-up an anti-corruption department to root-out corruption in that country.

This follows acceptance of bribery amounting to R6 million by Masupha Sole, the former CEO of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, from international companies bidding for projects related to the Katse dam.

Sole was bribed by the British, Canadian, French, Germany and American contractors to work at the lucrative Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. He is currently languishing in jail, serving an 18-year jail term. In a desperate move to get out of jail, he applied to the Lesotho High Court citing that a South African Judge presiding over his case was not properly appointed. He has lost the case with costs.

According to the Lesotho’s Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs, this case should serve as a wake-up call for all Basotho nationals that the arm of the law is long.

“The whole saga about this bribery case has the effect of sending a clear message to those who are or would wish to be involved in corruption or corruption practices as it were that Lesotho is beginning to show some zero tolerance towards such corrupt practices. So that is the message that this whole process must send, especially to public functionalists that is, holders of public office,” sats, Tsokolo Makhethe, the Deputy Attorney-General of Lesotho.

Hae Phoofolo, Sole’s legal representative, meanwhile says they are not happy with the judgement and are in the process of appealing. “It is encumbent upon us that this matter be taken to the Court of Appeal for a final decision regards thereto. Interestingly enough, even the other side of government lawyers are keen and agreeable that this matter should be referred to the court of appeal for a final decision because it touches on the constitutional issue, relating to the independence of the judiciary in Lesotho,” he says.

If Sole wins the appeal in three months’ time, he will be a free man. However, coming home to nothing as his luxurious mansion at one of the affluent suburbs in Maseru, together with a fleet of expensive cars including furniture, have all been auctioned.