Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lesotho Times
Published on 2024-03-13 12:28:10
‘Masibusiso Lebesa Charged with Fraud for Allegedly Defrauding the Ministry of Police and Public Safety
Local businesswoman, ‘Masibusiso Lebesa, found herself in hot water after being charged by the Maseru Magistrates Court for allegedly attempting to defraud the then Ministry of Police and Public Safety of M448,000. It is alleged that Lebesa presented false purchase orders to the ministry, claiming to have provided catering services between November 2021 and February 2022. This led to her appearance before Maseru Senior Resident Magistrate Thamae Thamae, who conferred her with the fraud charge.
The case was brought to the attention of the authorities by Police Constable (PC) Tšepo Tšilo, who received a tip about Lebesa’s attempt to defraud the government of nearly half a million Maloti. Subsequently, Lebesa was arrested and brought before the court to face the fraud charge. According to the charge sheet, Lebesa allegedly made false representations to the Ministry of Police and Public Safety by producing false purchase orders under her business, Maxmom, to provide lunch for the ministry’s officials.
The charge sheet specifies that Lebesa contravened section 68(1) read with section 109 of penal code 6 of 2010 by unlawfully and with intent to defraud, making false representations to the ministry through three false purchase orders. These orders were dated 27th November 2021 (M8,250), 27th November 2021 (M294,800), and 1st February 2022 (M145,750), all allegedly requesting Maxmom Suppliers to provide lunch for the Ministry of Police and Public Safety personnel. As a result, the accused committed the crime of fraud or attempted fraud.
Following her court appearance, Magistrate Thamae released Lebesa on M1,000 bail with conditions that she does not interfere with Crown witnesses, attends remands, and stands trial until its completion. She was instructed to re-appear before the court on 19th March 2024 for the allocation of trial dates.
The case of ‘Masibusiso Lebesa serves as a reminder of the consequences of fraudulent activities and the importance of upholding honesty and integrity in business dealings. It also highlights the diligence of law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting such offenses to maintain the rule of law and protect public funds.
This development underscores the need for businesses and individuals to conduct their affairs ethically and within the bounds of the law to avoid facing legal consequences and tarnishing their reputation. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of transparency and accountability in financial transactions to prevent cases of fraud and corruption.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how the case against ‘Masibusiso Lebesa will progress and what implications it will have on business practices and accountability in Lesotho. It serves as a cautionary tale for those tempted to engage in fraudulent activities and a lesson in the importance of integrity and adherence to legal and ethical standards.
Read the original article on Lesotho Times
