Hopolang Mokhopi
LOCAL Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police Minister Lebona Lephema’s private company has allegedly been defrauded of over M1.8 million by its two employees.
The minister’s Lephema Executive Transport’s employees, Thabang Shololo (36) and Malefane Mosothoane (37), appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court this week charged with fraud.
Shololo worked for the company as a graphic designer while Mosothoane was the plant operator at its Industrial Area premises where it also produces Maluti Cement.
They appeared before Resident Magistrate Peete Molapo who offered to release them on M10 000 bail and M100 000 surety each. However, the duo failed to pay and were therefore remanded in custody.
According to the chargesheet which Magistrate Molapo read to the accused, the duo swindled the funds between April 2023 and February 2024.
They misrepresented to the company that different customers had paid for cement. Acting on the misrepresentations, the company made deliveries to these customers yet it had not actually received any payments directly, causing prejudice to the value of M1 839 499.20.
It is alleged that the duo kept the money to themselves.
The two have been ordered to reappear before the same court on 20 February 2024.
