Water For Justice

LHDA M2 MILLION FRAUD CASE POSTPONED

A fraud case involving M2 million Maluti against former employee of Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), Ms. Peggy Thakeli was postponed on Friday to March 18 by the High Court.

According to a report from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) that instituted a legal action against the accused, Ms Thakeli allegedly made a fax message on December 17, 2004 ordering Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (ABSA), where the Highlands Water Project's funds are kept, to pay Solomon Salim for services he was claimed to have rendered to LHDA.

It is alleged that the accused also informed Lesotho Bank that Iketsetseng Hardware Centre was a company that was lawfully registered and rendering services to LHDA, and instructed the bank to transfer the money to the company's account at Boliba Savings and Credit Cooperative.

However, it was found that there is no such company registered under the name of Iketsetseng Hardware Centre, and that LHDA and the government have therefore, been defrauded.

The case is before Judge Ts'eliso Monaphathi and the defence counsel is Advocate Karabo Mohau, whereas the defence counsel is Advocate Hjalmar Worker