Tokelo Khausela
TWO South African women, who were allegedly part of the Lehlohonolo Selate-led syndicate that defrauded the Lesotho government of more than M50 million in 2021, have been arrested by South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks).
The duo of Uthando Lorraine Modise (37), and Marcious Lerato Lisene (37) appeared before the Ficksburg Magistrates Court on Monday where they were charged with fraud and money laundering.
They were accused along with their company, Traggulogy (Pty) Ltd, which allegedly received around M4 million after a duplicate voucher 013PVR22000092 was used to defraud the Lesotho treasury under the pretence that the company had rendered services to the Lesotho government, although that was never the case.
They were remanded in custody and will reappear before the same court on 13 March 2024 for their bail hearing.
Their arrest was a collaborative effort between the Hawks and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS). The LMPS had requested the assistance of the Hawks since most of the stolen money was transferred to South African bank accounts.
Modise and Lisene’s arrests are another cap in collaborative anti-crime fighting efforts between agencies in two different countries.
“Another stride was made on Monday, 26 February 2024, when three accused appeared before the Ficksburg Magistrates’ Court for fraud and money laundering worth about R57 million allegedly stolen from Lesotho’s Central Bank in 2021,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Traggulogy (Pty) Ltd, its directors Uthando Lorraine Modise (37), and Marcious Lerato Lisene (37) were arrested on the same day (26 February). The accused are South Africans.
“Bloemfontein based Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) was requested by their counterparts in Lesotho to trace money defrauded at the Central Bank of Lesotho and transferred to different South African companies.
“This crime was committed with the assistance of Lesotho officials who, after intercepting vouchers meant for legitimate service providers, diverted payments to their co-conspirators in South Africa. Some of these officials are already before court in Lesotho. With the help of the (Lesotho’s) Financial Intelligence Unit, it was established that money was channelled to a South African bank under different company accounts.
“The accused will be back in the same court on 13 March 2024 to apply for bail. Free State Head of the Hawks, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, is pleased by the growing collaboration to curb cross-border crime, especially complex money laundering involving multiple accounts in different countries.”
The Lesotho Times understands that Modise and Lisene will later on be extradited to Lesotho to stand trial alongside Selate and their other co-accused.
Selate was in October 2021 charged alongside Ntṧeliseng Lawrence, Mookho Rafono, Tlali Mokoaleli, Thabang Nkoe, Hlabathe Phafoli, Thithili Makhesi, Maqoboto Lepolesa, Fako Molefe and Karabelo Makara.
They were charged for defrauding the Ministry of Finance of M50 million “by purporting to pay for services rendered to the government whereas it was for their own personal gain”.
This allegedly happened between October 2020 and September 2021 in the Maseru district. They allegedly made false representations to the Central Bank of Lesotho, purporting that the Ministry of Finance had authorised the transfer of M50 million from the expenditure account to different company accounts held by Nivana Holdings Pty Ltd, Traggulogy Pty Ltd, Stone Curlew Holdings Pty Ltd, Sunny Penny Pty Ltd, Victorious General Dealer, Moletsima General Dealer, Hazel Nuts General Dealer and Plexus Suppliers Pty Ltd.
They appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court and were released on M5000 bail and M100 000 surety.
With the continued LMPS and Hawks investigations, the siphoned amount keeps increasing, now standing at around M57 million.
Selate, faces a plethora of other fraud, theft and money laundering charges in Lesotho. He was released on M10 000 bail and M150 000 surety in April last year since his October 2021 detention.
The Hawks had in March 2022, recovered M18 million held in South African banks and the aforementioned companies’ accounts and handed it over to Lesotho authorities.
Furthermore, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) had in October last year received property and vehicles from their South African counterparts which were allegedly bought by Selate and his accomplices with the stolen money.
The South African law enforcement officials, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Free State, Advocate Navilla Somaru and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) boss Major-General Mokgadi Bokaba, handed over a M5 million cheque and three vehicles, a Volkswagen Golf 6 worth M292 900, Audi A7 worth M1 520 00 and BMW X1 worth M830 616 as well as a flat worth M409 000 to the DCEO Director General, Adv Knorx Molelle.
