The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) spokesperson in the Free State, Phaladi Shuping, told OFM News that the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) was granted an order of R18 million that was fraudulently paid into various South African bank accounts. 

According to Shuping, AFU had proved that the money was fraudulently paid into Absa, Capitec, FNB and Standard Bank accounts to defraud the Lesotho government. 

He says that the law enforcement agencies established that officials from the Ministry of Finance allegedly extracted R50 million and deposited R31 million into various South African bank accounts. 

Shuping says that seven suspects are facing charges of fraud and money laundering.

"The AFU picked up R31 million was deposited and they made an application for preservation. We got a forfeiture order of R18 million and that money will be paid back to the Lesotho government. There is also a preservation of R7,3 million that was granted and the NPA will be applying for forfeiture of that money sometime in April," he adds.

Shuping further adds that the R50 million came from a well-orchestrated scheme that inflated and diverted payments meant for suppliers, to the bank accounts of suspects and their companies that had not rendered any services to the Lesotho government.

OFM News