Thahane trial begins

Staff Writer

A case in which former finance minister Timothy Thahane is alleged to have  swindled government of over M24 million in the Block Farming Project seven years ago, will proceed to trial on 1 June this year after an application by the defense was dismissed by High Court judge, Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi on Thursday.

Dr Thahane is facing two counts of fraud regarding the project. On 13 May, Justice Monaphathi asked for information, which included the Block Farming Policy, before the case could proceed to trial.

This was after the defence, led by South African Advocate, Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza, had asked the prosecution what the Block Farming Policy entailed.

The defense had also requested to be furnished with the names of the farmers who had applied for the scheme.

Because the prosecution had failed to produce the required information, Justice  Monaphathi ruled the trial would proceed.

According to the charge sheet, Dr Thahane on June 6 2008 allegedly misrepresented to Standard Lesotho Bank that then Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, and then Agriculture minister,  Ralechate ‘Mokose, had endorsed the Block Farming project for vegetable farmers belonging to Temo-‘MohoMpharane Agricultural Association of Leribe, resulting in government losing M18 092 587.50.

The second count relates to Dr Thahane’s alleged misrepresentation to Standard Lesotho Bank that fuel supplied to Temo-‘Moho, totaling M6 076 502.68, was payable by the bank to the suppliers, Engen Lesotho Limited.

However, the state argues M4.8 million had already been paid out to Temo-‘Moho by individual farmers and DrThahane had been aware of this.

Dr Thahane made his first appearance in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on 4 November 2013 and was allowed to go home after paying M10 000 bail and M100 000 surety.

He was also ordered to report to the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences investigators every last Friday of the month, as part of the bail conditions.