DCEO investigators raid GS’ home

MASERU – THE Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) raided the homes and office of government secretary Lerotholi Pheko on Tuesday.

The raid is part of the DCEO’s investigation into the M100 million the government paid to companies that repaired roads damaged by heavy rains earlier this year.

The Disaster Management Authority (DMA) and the Ministry of Local government were involved in awarding the contracts.

Last week, the anti-corruption unit raided the homes of three principal secretaries, Nonkululeko Zaly (Small Business), Lefu Manyokole (Local Government) and Thabo Motoko (Foreign Affairs).

Sources close to the investigation say the net might also catch some senior government officials, the companies and their directors.

Pheko, who is considered a person of interest, was not raided last week because he was on official duty in the United States.

The DCEO suspects some of the tenders were rigged and dubious or inflated invoices were paid. Companies that didn’t complete their work are also suspected to have been paid in full.
thepost can reveal that the investigators also raided Pheko’s two farms.

Pheko said he was not ready to be interviewed when he was contacted last night. Refiloe Kepa, the Cabinet’s communications director, said she only heard from unofficial sources that her boss had been raided.

Pheko was present during the raid but is yet to be officially interviewed. Manyokole was briefly interviewed after the raid last week.

Zaly and Motoko were not interviewed. thepost understands that the DCEO might also raid the homes of more senior government officials and directors of companies involved.

Last week, an angry Zaly accused the DCEO of being used by politicians to settle scores. The new government has promised to fight corruption and clean up the government.

Staff Reporter