- Tšolo to appear in court next month
Staff Reporter
Former Minister Temeki Tšolo has been served with a notice of trial and warned to appear in court next month for pre-trial processes for alleged fraud and corruption about the controversial Frazer Solar deal.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to locate and extradite Robert Frazer to stand trial.
The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) made this announcement yesterday, also disclosing that Tšolo is slated to appear in court for trial from September 16 to 20 this year.
“On or about November 2021, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) initiated a criminal investigation against Mr Temeki Tšolo and Frazer Solar Gmbh together with its Director, Mr Robert Frazer on allegations of fraud and corruption,” DCEO said in a statement.
“The said investigations arise from alleged corrupt and fraudulent awarding of tender in the amount of M700 million for the supply of solar energy by Frazer Solar to the Government of Lesotho,” it added.
DCEO explained that pursuant to the said tender, Frazer proceeded to enforce the contract securing an award in his favour and in circumstances where the government had been deliberately misled and denied the opportunity to defend the action.
It further clarified that on or about November 22, 2022, it instituted criminal proceedings and jointly charged Tšolo, Frazer, and his company for fraud and corruption and contravention of section 21(3)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offenses Act of 1999, as amended.
“As the result of the aforementioned development, Mr. Frazer left the jurisdiction of Lesotho and deliberately never set foot from thereon to face the charges against him together with Tšolo,” DCEO said.
The DCEO further revealed that with the assistance of its international counterpart, it commenced long and protracted processes to secure Frazer’s attendance in Lesotho through extradition and mutual legal assistance processes.
It said on or about November 2023, it applied for the separation of trials with the view of proceeding with the criminal prosecutions against Tšolo while at the same time continuing with attempts to locate and extradite Frazer to come stand trial in Lesotho.
“Processes are currently underway to secure Mr. Frazer’s attendance in Lesotho with the view of ensuring that he faces criminal prosecution. The DCEO is currently liaising with its international partners to secure that Mr. Frazer is extradited and brought to Lesotho to face criminal prosecution,” DCEO concluded.
