A Canadian Engineering Company, Acres International, has been fined M22, 058,091 by the Lesotho High court after it was found guilty of paying bribes to the former Chief Executive of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), Mr. Masupha Sole.

 When passing sentence on Monday 28 October, 2002,  the Presiding Judge, Chief Justice Mahapela Lehohla, said the sentence is such that other international organisations would think twice before bribing a public officer in the country. He said Acres has done a wrong act, whose consequences could be detrimental. " Bribery begets corruption, it undermines economic growth, deters international investment, and restricts an efficient collection of taxes. It also undermines policy, trust and credibility of institutions," he said.

 Justice Lehohla stressed that, corruption could cause political and economic unrest if efforts are not made to curb it. He said bribery is a component of corruption that brings new behavioural norms and cited greed as one of its sources. He expressed concern over what he said were negative remarks of officials of Acres Company after its conviction last month, that it is Acres' business and not of the Lesotho courts, and said they were contemptuous. He added that, the remarks did not show even a slightest sign of remorse. " The remarks do not show as to whether Acres has learned its lesson and would abstain from its bribing practise in future," the judge said.

Acres International  is one of the multinational construction companies that were engaged in the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme, and which are accused of having bribed Mr. Sole. Other companies include Spies Batignolles and Larmeyer. The prosecutor was Mr. Guido Penzhorn, while the defence counsel was Advocate Kemp Kemp. The former LHDA Chief Executive Mr. Masupha Sole, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for two counts of Fraud, and 11 counts of Bribery during the middle of the year.

28 October, 2002