| Former LDF Col. Denies Taking a Bribe from Millennium Travel | |
| Former
Lesotho Defence Force Colonel Peter Kholoane has denied receiving a
M20 000 bribe from Millennium Travel Agency in return for bringing the
army's business to the Agency Testifying in the High Court on February 15 in a case in which he is accused of taking a bribe from the Travel Agency on six occasions 2002 to 2003,Col. Kholoane conceded that he received money from Millennium Travel on different occasions but maintained that he had borrowed it from the director of the agency, a friend of his, to settle family matters. He avoided borrowing from his employers because he did not loans with interest, he said. Dismissing former army commander Lt. Gen. Mosakeng's testimony that he could have informed his superiors about his loans with the agency, Colonel Kholoane said he was not bound to inform the then LDF Commander personal matters. He had borrowed the money on different occasions because the problems he encountered were not anticipated, he said. He has already repaid this debt to Millennium Travel in four instalments starting from April 2004 to May 2004, after receiving his gratuity and leave balance from the army at the time of his retirement. Cross examined by Counsel for the crown, Advocate Pingla Hemraj, Colonel Kholoane said he has no payment receipts from the agency because the director informed him that his stationary had been confiscated by members of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences. The case before Justice Winston Churchill Maqutu, continues. The crown is represented by Advocate Pingla Hemraj, with attorney Molefi Ntlhoki as counsel for the defence. 16 February 2005 |
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| source: LENA |