Mohale FM THREE former senior officials of the Lesotho National League of Visually
Impaired Persons (LNLVIP) have been dragged before the Maseru Magistrate’s
Court, accused of orchestrating a brazen two year scheme that allegedly siphoned nearly M1 million from an organisation meant to serve some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
Former LNLVIP accountant Cecelia Rahlao, former secretary general Mabataung Khetsi and former treasurer Tlalane Lebusa appeared before Magistrate Thabang Tapole, to face six counts of fraud, corruption and theft before admitting them to bail. LNLVIP is an advocacy organization for the
blind and partially sighted people. It advocates for equal opportunities, provides support services, and works to remove societal barriers.
The trio is accused by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) of acting in concert to unlawfully embezzle a total of M966 650 between October 2021 and December 2023.
According to preliminary findings presented by the DCEO, the accused allegedly effected unauthorised cash withdrawals amounting to M140 440 from one of the league’s Standard Lesotho Bank accounts and used the money
for their personal benefit.
In a separate transaction, the three are alleged to have again worked together to withdraw M92 930 from another LNLVIP Standard Lesotho Bank account, which prosecutors say was also diverted for their personal use. The largest alleged fraudulent withdrawal involves a further M729 280, which the DCEO says was taken from a third LNLVIP account held with Standard Lesotho Bank.
The DCEO alleges that through these transactions, the accused abused their positions of trust within the organisation, effectively bleeding the league of funds intended to support visually impaired persons across the country.
The three face charges of corruption, with the DCEO further pleading that should the corruption charges fail, the court should alternatively convict them of theft.
