Lehlohonolo Selate, accused of M50 million fraud, was apprehended in South Africa after absconding Lesotho trials.
Lehlohonolo Selate, an alleged mastermind behind a M50 million fraud, has been arrested in South Africa. Selate had absconded from his trials in Lesotho since March and is currently held at Kroonstad Prison. He faces charges in South Africa related to laundering the proceeds of the alleged M50 million fraud through South African banks.
Selate is one of several individuals accused in a case involving the alleged theft of over M50 million from Lesotho's Ministry of Finance. The group is charged with defrauding the ministry by purporting to pay for services rendered to the government for their personal gain between October 2020 and September 2021. Selate had previously fled to South Africa in 2018 following a warrant for his arrest in a separate M17 million fraud case.
While out on bail for the M50 million case, Selate is challenging the warrants underpinning Lesotho's extradition bid. He argues that the warrants, issued in March and May 2026 by the Maseru Magistrates Court, were unlawfully obtained. He was previously released from remand in March 2023 after spending longer than the statutory period without being brought to trial.
Why it mattersLehlohonolo Selate is accused of defrauding the Ministry of Finance of M50 million, impacting government funds and potentially public services.
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