MASERU – TWO former employees of the Ministry of Finance accused of stealing M2 million from the government’s Old Age pension appeared in the magistrates’ court this week.
The two were accountants in the ministry’s pensions unit.
They were nabbed by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) following months of investigations.
They are Limakatso ’Malikhetla (50) and 40-year-old Mongali Mohapi.
They are charged together with seven other people.
The charge sheet says the two managed to cheat the system because they were the only accountants allowed to enter the names of pensioners into the pension system.
The state alleges that ’Malikhetla and Mohapi connived to create ‘ghost’ pensioners who they purported to be paying every month when in fact the money was flowing into their pockets.
It is alleged that some of their co-accused would then receive the money even though they did not qualify for the pension. They would then share the spoils.
By the time their ploy was discovered Mohapi and ’Malikhetla had siphoned M2 million from the government.
Their second appearance in court will be on next Thursday.
Reports by the audit general have repeatedly unearthed cases of government official who have lined their pockets with money meant for pensioners.
Thooe Ramolibeli