INTERNATIONAL COMPANY INVOLVED IN BRIBERY  APPEAR IN LESOTHO HIGH  COURT

The defence counsel in a case in which Larmeyer Construction Company is accused of having bribed a former Lesotho Highlands Development Authority's (LHDA) Chief Executive, has requested the Lesotho High Court to dismiss the case, as the Crown's evidence is insufficient to prove its guilt.    

 When submitting Heads of Arguments in the High Court on Monday 07 October, 2002, Advocate Sytze Ackema said the Crown was unable to prove that there was a
bribery deal, between Larmeyer and the former LHDA Chief Executive, Mr. Masupha Sole. He added that, there is neither a videotape, an audiotape, nor direct evidence to that effect. He indicated that, the evidence showed that Sole favoured Larmeyer in the award of contracts, which in turn gave him money. He however said there is no direct evidence that Larmeyer paid Sole.     

Advocate Ackema stated that, there must be a logical reasoning for one to arrive at such a conclusion, and not speculation. He said it is an undisputed fact that Sole's position was influential, but said the Crown could have proved how he influenced an award of contracts to Larmeyer.            

The presiding Judge, Justice Gabriel Mofolo explained that, it is only proper for Larmeyer to be summoned to the witness box, if the crown was unable to prove its case, as the defence counsel said. He conceded that, there were no documents of transactions that were placed before the court, that showed that Larmeyer gave money to Sole. Justice Mofolo however clarified that, the court would make a decision on whether the company is guilty or not, when the case is about to be
completed.     

Laymeyer Construction Company is one of those that is being charged with Bribery, after it allegedly made a bribery deal with the former LHDA Chief Executive, Mr. Sole between 1988 and 1995, so that it could be awarded contracts. There are 17 other companies including Spie Batignolles that are awaiting trial. The Prosecutor of the case that is continuing is Mr. Guido Penzhorn.

08 October,2002