M130 Million DMA Fraud Trial Set for September

MASERU

After months of legal wrangling, procedural disputes and multiple postponements, the long-awaited trial in the high-profile fraud case involving more than M130 million from the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has been set down for September 22–26, 2025 in the High Court.

The trial has faced repeated false starts, with previous hearing dates abandoned due to disagreements between the prosecution and the defence. One sticking point was the amended and final indictment, which removed one of the accused, ‘Makhotso Mahosi, from the charge sheet following her death. The defence argued it had not been formally served with this revised indictment, rendering them unprepared to proceed.

Another obstacle emerged over the minutes of the pretrial conference. Defence lawyers complained that they had been handed illegible documents, making it impossible to properly consult with their clients or develop a coherent trial strategy. In addition, earlier this year, proceedings were derailed when one of the accused failed to appear in court, citing illness. 

On that same date, another accused was left without representation after encountering difficulties with their legal counsel, forcing yet another postponement.

The M130 million in question was allegedly siphoned from funds earmarked for critical disaster management operations. If proven, the allegations point to a large-scale breach of fiduciary duty within an agency mandated to respond to crises and other emergencies affecting Basotho. 

With the trial now firmly set for late September, the court is under pressure to ensure there are no further procedural hiccups. Both sides are expected to come fully prepared, as the matter is likely to involve a mountain of documentary evidence, financial records and testimony from both government officials and forensic experts. For the DMA, the case is a stark reminder of the importance of stringent oversight in managing public funds. For the public, it is a test of whether high-level corruption allegations can be resolved through due process after years of delay.

As September approaches, the hope is that this time, the trial will proceed without interruption, bringing an end to a long chapter of postponements and moving one step closer to justice.