Moorosi Tsiane
IT doesn’t stop raining for young businessman, Pitso ‘Bikerboy’ Ntsukunyane, who was once again hauled before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday this week for allegedly defrauding the government of over M2 million.
The alleged fraud took place last year during the rehabilitation of gravity and solar water systems at Ha Monyake, Kholokoe, in Mafeteng, according to the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO).
The 27-year-old appeared before Central Chief Magistrate ‘Matankiso Nthunya, who granted him M10 000 bail and postponed the case to 5 September 2023
It is the state’s case that Mr Ntsukunyane tendered for the contract on behalf of his company, LL Construction. The tender was specific that bidding companies should have the requisite experience in order to be considered for the contract, his charge sheet further reads.
However, according to the first count as indicted on the charge-sheet, Mr Ntsukunyane in March last year made false representation that LLConstruction had the necessary experience and expertise for the job. He is charged with prejudicing the government of M1 393 993. 20 for this alleged offense.
In count two, Mr Ntsukunyane allegedly made false representation that LL Construction had a construction supervisor, site foreman, mason, electrician and environmentalists, knowing this was not the case. He is again charged with fraud for this alleged misrepresentation.
Mr Ntsukunyane is further charged with making false representation on December 2022 that LL Construction had completed the required works at Ha Monyake and should be paid M802 123.35 as a result.
After the charges were presented to Mr Ntsukunyane, his lawyer, Attorney Qhalehang Letsika, applied that his client be admitted to M10 000 bail on conditions he doesn’t interfere with Crown witnesses and stands trial to finality.
DCEO prosecutor, Advocate Mamongongo Baasi, did not oppose this request.
However, Chief Magistrate Nthunya reluctantly granted the bail on the proposed conditions, telling the respective counsels: “Your bail application has been granted on the already agreed conditions and you should come back to court on 5 September 2023. However, counsels (Letsika and Baasi), I really don’t appreciate that you come here and tell me you have already agreed on bail conditions. For instance, there is no surety when I had intended to demand it. However, since you are saying you have agreed, I will grant this bail as prayed.”
Meanwhile, this was Mr Ntsukunyane’s second court case in two weeks in which he is accused of defrauding the government of millions of maloti. A fortnight ago, he was charged alongside former Local Government Principal Secretary Lefu Manyokole and Disaster Management Authority (DMA) boss ‘Makhotso Mahosi. They were accused of corruption and defrauding the government of over M4 million in November last year, and appeared before Magistrate ‘Mamorojele Qoo.
In that case, Messers Manyokole and Mahosi are alleged to have influenced the decision to award LL Construction a contract to build Seboche bridge without following procurement procedures.
The three were also admitted to M10 000 bail but further ordered to place immovable property situated in Maseru as surety.
The Lesotho Times has further established that the DCEO is yet to slap Mr Ntsukunyane with more fraud charges related to other matters involving government funds.
