Maseru – 20 July 2026
A 30-year-old Mosotho civil servant, Maqoacha Qhobosheane, who is deployed within the Judiciary as a court clerk at Matala Local Court, has appeared before court on multiple charges of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of office following allegations that he unlawfully collected and misappropriated money from members of the public.
Qhobosheane worked rotationally with his colleagues as a court clerk, prosecutor and accountant. It is alleged that he abused the authority entrusted to him by falsely informing accused persons that they had been fined by the court when no such fines had been imposed. It is alleged that the purported fines do not appear in any court records.
The accused is further alleged to have received payments from accused persons without issuing official receipts. In other instances, he allegedly issued receipts for monies received, but the payments were never reflected in the court’s official books of account.
According to the prosecution, on 24 May 2024, Qhobosheane, together with his former colleague, Maphate, who is now deceased, unlawfully instructed Selepe Rabolinyane and Thesele Mothebe to each pay a fine of M1,500.00 despite there being no court order authorising such fines.
In a separate incident on 10 May 2023, the accused allegedly embezzled M1,000.00 in bail money from Nthabiseng Moea and another M1,000.00 from Marahaba Rachere, which the prosecution alleges was converted to the personal benefit of the accused and his late colleague instead of being deposited into the court’s official accounts.
Qhobosheane is charged with offences contravening Section 68 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code Act, 2010 (as amended), further read with Section 26(1) of the same Act; Section 57(2) read with Section 109 of the Penal Code Act, 2010 (as amended); and Section 21(3) read with Section 34 of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act No. 5 of 1999 (as amended), further read with Section 26(1) of the Penal Code Act, 2010 (as amended).
The accused was granted bail in the sum of M1,000.00 with one surety of M20,000.00, both of which he was able to satisfy. The matter has been postponed to 17 August 2026 for set down.
The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) continues to urge public officers to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability, warning that abuse of public office for personal gain undermines public confidence in the administration of justice and will be met with the full force of the law.