. . .?he also faces a?murder charge
Moorosi Tsiane
FUGITIVE Teyateyaneng tycoon, Sello Mabothile, who has been on the run since 2022?has been extradited from South Africa and immediately brought?into the dock to?be enjoined in the?M50?million money laundering and fraud case.
After nearly three years on the run, Mabothile’s luck ran out when police in South Africa where he was holed up, finally caught up with him and handed him over to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) at the Maseru?Bridge?border post?on Friday.
The businessman was immediately hauled before Chief Magistrate Matankiso Nthunya?who?remanded him in custody.
Crown prosecutor,?Advocate (Adv) Keketso Motiki,?was?adamant?that Mabothile should stay behind bars, while police wrapped up their investigations, as he was a flight risk.
“The Crown is going to oppose bail if?applies?for?it. However, as he still contemplates about that, we ask for the court to postpone this matter for five days. The investigations in this matter are almost complete and we propose that he comes back for remand on 11 September 2025 to apply for bail if he so wishes,”?Advocate Motiki submitted.
Magistrate Nthunya agreed?and remanded him?in custody until 11 September 2025.
“You came here pursuant to extradition by South African police. If you wish to apply for bail you can come on 11 September 2025. But in the meantime, I cannot deny the Crown’s application to remand you in custody given the circumstances that you came here under,” she said.
Mabothile will be enjoined in the staggering M50 million fraud saga, alongside Lehlohonolo Selate, who?masterminded the humongous scam.
Selate is accused of?instigating the M50 million fraud?in 2021 by making fictitious claims for services that were never rendered.?He colluded with treasury officials who initiated the payments on behalf of the government for the phantom services.
Mabothile?now joins a long?list of co-accused: Selate himself, Ntseliseng Lawrence, Mookho Rafono, Tlali Mokoaleli, Thabang Nkoe, Hlabathe Phafoli, Thithili Makhesi, Maqoboto Lepolesa, Fako Molefe, and Karabelo Makara.
But this is not the only case Mabothile must answer.
In a dramatic twist, Advocate Motiki revealed outside court that the tycoon still has a pending murder case hanging over his head.
“For now, we nabbed him with regards to the M50 million trial and he will be joined in the matter as soon as the investigations are completed. But he still has a pending murder case after he killed a person in Naleli,” said Motiki.
According to investigators, Mabothile allegedly shot and killed a man in Naleli, Berea, back in 2020, accusing him of having an affair with his partner. He was arrested, granted bail, but later vanished?after he got wind that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) was closing in on him over the M50 million scandal.