(October 29, 2002) The South African government applauded Tuesday a Lesotho court’s decision to fine a Canadian company more than $3.1 million Cdn for bribing an official in charge of a multibillion water project.

(October 29, 2002) "I think the judge is sending a clear message to other companies that bribery doesn’t pay," said Patricia Adams, executive director of Probe International. "With tough penalties like this, companies will get the message that it’s not worth it."

(October 29, 2002) South African Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Ronnie Kasrils has welcomed the fine imposed on Acres International found guilty of bribing an official of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority.

(October 29, 2002) A Canadian engineering firm embroiled in a high-profile bribery case in Lesotho said on Monday it would appeal against a $2.2-million fine handed down by the country’s high court.

(October 29, 2002) The Lesotho High Court fined Canadian engineering firm Acres International R22,5million in a landmark case yesterday for bribing a top official in a major water project in Lesotho.

(October 29, 2002) Acres International, the Canadian engineering consulting company, was yesterday fined R22.5m ($2.23m, €2.28m, £1.43m) in the Lesotho High Court for bribery linked to a World Bank-funded southern Africa water supply contract.

(October 28, 2002) A Canadian transnational corporation has been hit with a multimillion-dollar fine for bribing its way into a lucrative World Bank-funded African dam project. It is the first to be convicted and sentenced, and now faces a fine of 22m maloti.

(October 28, 2002) Maseru, the sleepy capital of an African mountain kingdom, seems an unlikely theatre for an unfolding bribery scandal involving Western multinationals —among them Canada’s Acres International Ltd.— that has rocked the global construction industry, reports the Globe and Mail (Canada). The Oakville, Ontario-based engineering firm, convicted last month of bribing the former head of one of Africa’s biggest water projects in return for contracts worth $21 million, was in Lesotho High Court on Monday for sentencing.

(October 28, 2002) "There is a total absence of remorse. All that Acres appears to regret was that it was caught," said Judge Mahapela Lehohla.

(October 28, 2002) Acres International, was fined R22.5-million in the Lesotho High Court today for bribery linked to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project that supplies water to South Africa.