lesotho: African conduit guilty in Lesotho bribe trial

The long-running series of corruption trials against leading international construction companies in the southern African state of Lesotho has reached another milestone with a guilty plea from one of the main intermediaries for the bribes. Jacobus Michiel du Plooy, a South African consultant, has pleaded guilty to paying $375,000 (£225,000) to Masupha Sole, the former chief executive of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project who is serving 15 years in prison for accepting more than $2m in bribes from a dozen western companies. The cash was paid on behalf of Impregilo SpA, Italy's largest construction company, according to the indictment.