Moorosi Tsiane
A former Senior Administration Officer in His Majesty’s Office has been sentenced to 18 years in prison or pay a fine of M36,000 after being found guilty of corruption.
Senior Resident Magistrate Nthabiseng Moopisa sentenced Matšeliso Mabuea of Ha Tšosane, Maseru, this week following her conviction on two counts of corruption.
Ms Mabuea was prosecuted by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) for unlawfully awarding contracts to Shames (Pty) Ltd without following proper procurement procedures.
The case dates back to 2017 when Mabuea, while still in office, awarded two contracts to Shames (Pty) Ltd for the construction of carports at Matsieng Royal Palace. The first contract was worth M70,463.76, and the second M93,000.
In exchange for awarding the contracts, Ms Mabuea received a bribe of M30,000.
The court found her guilty of corruption on both charges on 28 May 2025, and she was sentenced earlier this week.
She was charged under Section 21(3)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act No. 5 of 1999, as amended. Alternatively, she faced a charge under Section 21(1) of the same Act. The offences were committed while she was a Public Officer and Senior Administration Officer at the Royal Palace, thus occupying a high-trust position within His Majesty’s Office.
The court convicted Ms Mabuea, concluding that she had abused her position of authority in a premeditated and brazen scheme that betrayed the trust of the institution she served for personal gain.
Representing the anti-corruption body, Advocate Malerato Ntsatsi presented a strong argument that illustrated the depth of Mabuea’s betrayal and greed.
“The accused held a position of public trust and authority, which she deliberately exploited to facilitate corrupt transactions. Despite being a Public Officer, she was a Senior Administrator at His Majesty’s Office. By virtue of her position, she ought to have respected the Office of the King,” argued Adv Ntsatsi.
After the Crown concluded its case, Ms Mabuea, through her legal representative, one Adv Koto, applied for a discharge in an attempt to avoid answering to the charges. However, her application was dismissed by the court.
In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Moopisa aligned with the sentiments expressed by the Crown, stating that the betrayal by a senior official within the King’s household not only taints the image of public service but also undermines the ethical foundation of governance.
“The accused held a position of public trust and authority, which she deliberately exploited to facilitate corrupt transactions. Despite being a Public Officer, she was a Senior Administrator at His Majesty’s Office. By virtue of her position, she ought to have respected the Office of the King. The offence was properly planned by the accused and the people she awarded the contracts to. It was a deliberate and well-calculated act,” said Magistrate Moopisa.
She also ruled that the accused coordinated the corrupt acts from the procurement stage, where requisitions were made, all the way to the payment stage, as evidenced by documents and testimony presented before the court.
Magistrate Moopisa also pointed out that Ms Mabuea did not show any remorse during the trial and tried to frustrate the process by evading responsibility.
“The accused has failed to demonstrate any genuine remorse during the proceedings; rather, she wasted the Court’s time. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. While the Court was expecting to hear her defence after dismissal of her application for a discharge, she decided to remain silent. The trial took a complete four years due to her delaying tactics and lack of remorse.
“In light of the aforementioned, the Crown argues that this situation necessitates the imposition of a stringent and deterrent sentence. In consideration of the severity of the offence and the violation of public trust, a custodial sentence is necessary to maintain the integrity of public service and reflect society’s condemnation of corruption. This Court was humbly urged to impose a penalty provided in terms of Section 34 of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act No. 5 of 1999, as amended by Act No. 8 of 2006.”
Therefore, the court sentenced Ms Mabuea to 18 years in prison or a fine of M36,000.
“The accused is found guilty as charged and given the following sentence: 18-year imprisonment or M36,000 fine,” said Magistrate Moopisa.
