Staff Reporter
A house belonging to M50 million suspected fraudster Lehlohonolo Selate has been seized in Bloemfontein. It is expected to be handed over to Lesotho government by South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit tomorrow.
The house is among assets believed to have been bought by proceeds from the infamous M50 million fraud. Some of the assets and cash have already been recovered.
Selate and several other people allegedly siphoned M50 million from the state through a well-orchestrated crime syndicate. The suspects allegedly inflated and diverted payments meant for suppliers to themselves and their fake companies which had not provided service to government.
He is accused of having been the mastermind of a scam in which the government was defrauded M50 million through payments for fictious supplies.
Selate is facing a string of other cases in the Lesotho courts and is currently out on bail.
The Lesotho Times understands that while the assets have not been listed in detail, a house belonging to Selate in Bloemfontein, will be handed over to the Lesotho authorities, who are expected to auction it and hand over the proceeds to the office of Accountant General, ‘Malehlohonolo Mahase.
This was confirmed by authoritative DCEO sources last night.
Selate was arrested in March this year and later and granted bail by Maseru Resident Magistrate, Nthabiseng Moopisa, on 11 April 2023. She released him on M10 000 bail and M150 000 surety.
