(September 18, 2002) Acres International, a Toronto-based engineering firm, was convicted yesterday of two counts of bribing a foreign official in connection with contracts tied to a US$8-billion water project in Lesotho, a tiny landlocked country within South Africa.

(September 18, 2002) In a 300-page judgment, Judge Lehohla found that Acres had intended to bribe Mr. Sole and that its agreement with its agent was struck in order to cover the bribe. Acres said it was shocked by the ruling and plans to appeal.

(September 18, 2002) "What Lesotho has said is that it takes two to tango . . . [Now] businesses will look at Lesotho and say, ‘We don’t have to engage in criminal activities in order to get contracts. We prefer to do business in countries like that’," said Patricia Adams.

(September 17, 2002) Acres International Press Release.

(September 16, 2002) Why are we using taxpayers’ money to arm dictators and to back projects that destroy the environment and displace thousands of men and women from their land?

(September 12, 2002) The verdict in the case against a Canadian engineering firm accused of bribing the former Chief Executive of Lesotho’s Highlands Development Authority is scheduled for tomorrow in Maseru’s high court.

(July 19, 2002) Acres International responds to Probe International’s June 27, article, "The Canadian connection." Acres’ says its case highlights the risks Canadian companies face in developing countries, and the need to ensure they receive due process.

(July 11, 2002) The former chief executive of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority Masupha Sole, who was jailed for 18 years for corruption, has begun legal action against the judge in his case.

(July 6, 2002) Like all big dam projects, Lesotho’s has been the subject of widespread criticism from environment-alists.

(July 6, 2002) The Lesotho Highlands water project is the largest civil engineering feat in Africa. It involves building five dams in the tiny kingdom’s Maluti Highlands over 30 years at an estimated cost of $8bn [about pounds 5.2bn].

(June 6, 2002) The former chief executive of a water board has been jailed for 18 years for corruption, making him the first official in the southern African country to be punished for taking bribes from multinational companies.