by Odious Debts Online

August 29, 2003
German engineering contractors Lahmeyer International were fined more than $1 million (R10,6-m maloti) in the Lesotho High Court on Tuesday for bribery. Lahmeyer is the second of three multinationals charged with bribing a top official to win contracts in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, parched southern Africa’s most ambitious water delivery scheme to date. Judge Gabriel Mofolo found the firm guilty on seven counts of paying bribes totalling more than R5-million. In fining Lahmeyer, Judge Mofolo said courts in Lesotho took a very serious view of bribery. Corruption attacked the administration of the public service and “bedevilled good governance.” Lahmeyer officials have said they intend to appeal both the conviction and the fine.¬†