Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lesotho Times
Published on 2024-03-05 13:03:17
Two South African women, Uthando Lorraine Modise and Marcious Lerato Lisene, have recently been arrested by South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) for their alleged involvement in a syndicate led by Lehlohonolo Selate that defrauded the Lesotho government of over M50 million in 2021. The women, along with their company Traggulogy (Pty) Ltd, were charged with fraud and money laundering after receiving around M4 million through a duplicate voucher used to deceive the Lesotho treasury.
The Ficksburg Magistrates Court remanded Modise and Lisene in custody, and they are scheduled to reappear in court on 13 March 2024 for their bail hearing. The arrest of these two individuals was a result of collaborative efforts between the Hawks and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), as most of the stolen funds were transferred to South African bank accounts.
This successful operation highlights the growing cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different countries to combat cross-border crimes. In a statement released by the South African Police Service (SAPS), it was mentioned that another group of three accused individuals were also charged with fraud and money laundering related to the theft of around R57 million from Lesotho’s Central Bank in 2021.
The assistance of the Bloemfontein based Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) was crucial in tracing the stolen money and uncovering its transfer to various South African companies. The involvement of Lesotho officials in intercepting legitimate vouchers and diverting payments to accomplices in South Africa was also revealed. The ongoing investigation aims to bring all involved parties to justice and recover the misappropriated funds.
It is understood that Modise and Lisene will be extradited to Lesotho to stand trial with Selate and other co-accused individuals. Selate and his associates were initially charged with defrauding the Ministry of Finance of M50 million by falsely claiming payment for services rendered to the government for personal gain. The fraudulent activities took place between October 2020 and September 2021, leading to significant financial losses for the government.
Despite the initial arrests and bail granted to some of the accused, the investigation by LMPS and Hawks continues to uncover more details of the elaborate fraud scheme. The recovery of funds held in South African banks and assets purchased with the stolen money demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to hold the perpetrators accountable and return the embezzled funds to the rightful authorities.
The collaboration between different agencies, including the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO), has been instrumental in pursuing justice and recovering assets obtained through illicit means. As the legal proceedings progress and more evidence comes to light, efforts to bring all those involved in the fraud scheme to justice will continue. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in combating financial crimes and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Read the original article on Lesotho Times
