A director at the Lahmeyer International company, one of the international firms involved in the construction of the giant Lesotho highlands water project, is expected to appear in the Lesotho High Court soon on charges of corruption and bribery, according to court papers.
Sapa’s correspondent in Lesotho reports that according to the court papers, Raymond Stock allegedly paid R1-million between 1996 and 1999 to the then chief delegate in the Lesotho highlands water commission, Reatile Mochebelele.
Mochebele was head of the water commission made up of delegates from Lesotho and South Africa.
According to the court papers, Stock allegedly bribed Mochebelele with the money to solicit work done, or to be done by the Germany-based company.
Mochebelele is now working for New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) secretariat in South Africa.
Mochebelele has since bought a R1,9-million mansion in South Africa. The house was bought in March 2004 with the assistance of South African-based Leadcon Projects.
Several international companies involved in the construction of the Lesotho highlands water project are still facing charges of bribery and corruption in Lesotho. Others were found guilty for their corrupt involvement in the project that sells water to South Africa, and were ordered to pay millions of rands by the courts.
Another company facing corruption and bribery charges is Imperigilio of Italy, which is alleged to have bribed some officials of the project with R11-million. – Sapa