Mohloai Mpesi
Finance Manager at the Directorate of Disputes Prevention Resolution (DDPR), Masekane Thamae, 47, has been charged for stealing from her employer monies ranging over M370 000 for the period spanning 2016 to 2019.
Thamae faces a litany of charges that include corruption, money laundering, fraud and theft aggravated after the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) completed its investigations against her.
According to the indictment seen by Newsday this week, the Finance Manager is said to have embezzled money amounting to over M 372 200 between 2016 and 2019.
It further indicates that she abused the powers vested on her by diverting for her personal use or benefit, the money of the State which she is reported to have used to settle her debts without making arrangement for instalment deductions from her salary when she was preparing payroll. Therefore, charged for contravening section 21 (3) (b) of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act No.5 of 1999 as amended by Act No.8 of 2006.
Thamae will be represented by TÅ¡abela Chambers on May 7, 2021 when the case ensues before Justice Teboho Thoso. She is out on a M1000 bail whose conditions include not interfering with the Crown witnesses, not hamper police investigations and find someone to stand surety of M10 000.
According to the charge, “…during the period December 2016 to December 2019, the exact dates being unknown to the Prosecutor, and at or near Directorate of Disputes Prevention Resolution (DDPR) offices in the district of Maseru, the Accused being the Finance Manager at DDPR, did unlawfully and intentionally abuse the functions or position of her office, in the performance or failure to perform an act, in violation of the law, to wit Sections 68 (1) and or 59 (c) of the Penal Code 2010, in the discharge of her functions for the purpose of obtaining an undue advantage for herself or for another person to wit; by diverting for her personal use or benefit, money the property of DDPR into account No: 1017703900014 held at Lesotho Post Bank in the amount of M87, 517. 68, entrusted to her by virtue of her position to settle her personal loans at the Staff’s Provided Fund administered by Lesotho Life Assurance Company Limited (LNIG) without making arrangement for instalment deductions from her salary when she was preparing payroll. And thus the accused did thereby commit the offence of corruption,†the document reads.
Thamae was further indicted on aggravated theft, money laundering and contravening section 59 (c) and 58 read with section 109 of the Penal Code Act No.6 of 2010 for looting the photocopying services amassing for over M14 000 and M80 000.
“The accused, in charge of Finances and thus the employee of the state did unlawfully and intentionally steal money collecting from photocopying services in the amount of M 14, 500. 77, the property or in the lawful possession of DDPR and thus the property of the State which has come into her possession in the course of her employment as an employment of the State. The accused thereby commit the offence of Aggravated theft.
“The accused did unlawfully and intentionally steal money held in Trust Fund on behalf of beneficiaries whose disputes were settled at DDPR in the amount of M 80, 683. 56, the property or in the lawful possession of DDPR and thus the property of the State which has come into her possession in the course of her employment as an employee of the State. The accused did thereby commit the offence of aggravated theft.
She was further accused of contravening section 22 read with section 109 of the penal code Act No.6 of 2010.
“In that or during the period of December 2019, the exact date being unknown to the Prosecutor, and at or near the Directorate of Dispute and Resolution (DDPR) offences in the district of Maseru, the accused being the Finance Manager at the DDPR, in charge of finances of DDPR, with intent to commit fraud did unlawfully commit an act which is more than preparatory to the commission of the said offences to wit; by withdrawing and or transferring from DDPR Account No: 1017703900014 held at Lesotho Post Bank in the amount of M5, 900. 00, to settle her loan at the Staff’s Provident Funded Fund administered by (LNIG) without making arrangement for an instalment deductions of the same amount of money from her salary when she was preparing payroll. And thus the accused did thereby commit the offence of attempted fraud,†the document reads.
She is further accused of contravening section 25 of the money laundering and proceeds of crime act No.4 of 2008 as amended by Act No. 7 of 2016.
“In that during the period December 2016 to December 2019, the exact dates being unknown to the Prosecutor, and at or near the DDPR offices in the district of Maseru, the accused being the Finance Manager at the DDPR in charge of finances, did acquire, posses, use property, convert and or transfer money in the DDPR bank account number: 1017703900014 held at Lesotho Post Bank in the amount of M87, 517. 68 entrusted to her by virtue of her position to settle her personal loans at the Staff’s Provided Funded administered by Lesotho Life Assurance Company Limited (LNIG) with the aim of concealing and distinguishing the illicit origin or true nature of the property, movement ownership of the said property, knowing or having reasons to suspect that property is derived directly and indirectly from the acts or omission which constitutes an offence in Lesotho or outside Lesotho, to wit fraud as contemplated by section 68 (1) of the Penal Code 2010.
