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dam-l Court case on Lesotho dam, Business Day/LS
"Representatives of the World Bank and European Union have allegedly assured
Lesotho officials that they will help to finance what is expected to be a
lengthy and costly court case."
30 November 1999
Water project's former CEO in court
Primarashni Pillay
TWO individuals, including Masupha Sole, the former CEO of the Lesotho
Highlands Water Project, and representatives of three international
companies, appeared before the chief magistrate of Maseru yesterday on
charges of alleged bribery amounting to R22m.
Sole appeared on charges of taking R12m in bribes over a 10-year period
ending last year.
The companies, which were represented in court yesterday, included Sogreah,
Spie Batignolles and Coyne et Bellier, all of France; Sir Alexander Gibbs of
England and Lahmeyer International of Germany; and Lesotho Highlands Project
Contractors.
JM Du Plooy of Ficksburg in the Free State also appeared on charges of
alleged bribery.
Representatives of the Highlands Water Venture would appear in court next
Tuesday, a source said.
An arrest warrant had been issued for James Griffiths, representative of
Canadian company Acres International, who failed to appear in court
yesterday.
Advocate Guido Penzhorn SC, who appeared for the state, applied for the
postponement of the case until December 7.
Three SA companies suspected of being involved in alleged bribery had not
yet been charged, the source said.
Representatives of the World Bank and European Union have allegedly assured
Lesotho officials that they will help to finance what is expected to be a
lengthy and costly court case.
http://www.bday.co.za/99/1130/news/n13.htm
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Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
and Editor, World Rivers Review
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
http://www.irn.org
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