(August 15, 2003) Lesotho’s Court of Appeal has reduced the R22-million fine imposed by the High Court of Lesotho on Canadian company Acres International, convicted of bribing the former head of one of Africa’s biggest water projects.
Canadian firm loses appeal against Lesotho bribery conviction
(August 15, 2003) Canadian engineering firm Acres International has lost its appeal against a bribery conviction in a major African water project.
Canadian engineering multinational loses appeal in Lesotho bribery conviction
(August 15, 2003) Acres International, an Oakville, Ont.-based engineering firm, lost its appeal today against a bribery conviction in a Lesotho court. Acres had been found guilty of paying an official to win contracts in one of Africa’s largest water supply projects, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Decision on Canadian firm’s appeal expected tomorrow
(August 14, 2003) A decision is expected tomorrow on an appeal launched by Canadian engineering company Acres International against its conviction and R22-million fine for corruption in relation to one of Africa’s largest water supply projects.
PRESS RELEASE Acres’ landmark bribery conviction upheld
(August 15, 2003) Acres International, an Oakville, Ont.-based engineering firm, lost its appeal today against a bribery conviction in a Lesotho court. Acres had been found guilty of paying an official to win contracts in one of Africa’s largest water supply projects, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Canadian firm appeals Lesotho verdict
(August 6, 2003) Lesotho’s highest court is hearing an appeal by a Canadian engineering company against its conviction and R22-million fine for corruption related to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Ombudsman releases report on Lesotho Highlands Development Authority and affected communities
(August 6, 2003) The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority should pay interest on delayed compensation for communities affected by the giant Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s Phase 1B, Ombudsman says.
Kicking corruption in Kenya
(August 3, 2003) Mwai Kibaki, the new President of Kenya, is kicking corruption where it hurts, firing crooked government cronies and holding public officers to account. After 24 years of corrupt rule, Kenyans are rediscovering hope.
Southern Africa calls for reparations for apartheid
(July 30, 2003) Loans to the apartheid regime and its agents are “odious debts” and should not be repaid, says the London-based International Apartheid Debt and Reparations Campaign.
Foreign debt: Nigeria’s millstone
(July 23, 2003) If Nigeria could recover all the money "looted by past government officials," it would substantially reduce the country’s foreign debt, says Dr. Ndubisis Nwokoma, a professor of economics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Southern Africa: Civil society pushes for greater say in AU
(July 9, 2003) "In the past it was the creditors who determined the processes. It must be remembered that there is illegitimate debt. It is not a way of exempting African governments from blame. However, there is debt caused not only be mismanagement by the government concerned, but also by poor lending practices." ?Charles Mutasa, a representative of the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AfroDAD), addressing the second African Union (AU) summit of African Governments and Heads of States in Mozambique.
Agenda in Africa
(July 3, 2003) If the United States can forgive Iraq’s debt because of Saddam Hussein’s actions, it ought to forgive the debt that Nigeria, for instance, amassed under its former military dictator, the late Sani Abacha.
Africa may have a case on basis of ‘odious debt’
(July 2, 2003) "One side-effect of the American/British occupation of Iraq is that it has sparked public debate on a dark secret of international finance: the debt taken on by odious regimes," say James K. Boyce and Leonce Ndikumana.
Lahmeyer International sentenced in Lesotho
(July 2, 2003) German consultancy firm Lahmeyer International found guilty of bribery in Lesotho Highland Water Project.
Lesotho Judge Convicts German Engineering Firm of Bribery Charges
(June 18, 2003) "Like the Acres’ verdict before it, the judgment against Lahmeyer throws into doubt the legitimacy of these companies’ involvement in other large dam projects throughout the world," says Ryan Hoover of International Rivers Network.


