Lesotho betting firm sues former director for M10 million theft
Worldstar Online Group Lesotho is suing ex-director Henry John Marquis for allegedly stealing M10 million (€535,000).
Lesotho.- A Lesotho-based betting firm, Worldstar Online Group Lesotho LTD, has filed a lawsuit against its former Director, Henry John Marquis, accusing him of stealing more than M10 million (€535,000) from company accounts. The case, brought before the courts in Maseru, alleges that Marquis, a South African national, abused his position of authority to divert funds for personal gain during his tenure.
Court documents detail that Marquis was appointed as a director in March 2021, sharing the role with Mervin Brody, who did not participate actively in operations and was removed in August 2023. From August 2022 to August 2023, Marquis held sole authority over the company’s finances, including its Nedbank Lesotho account.
Richard Michael Nash, the British majority shareholder who replaced Marquis as Director, discovered the alleged irregularities after taking over. Nash stated in the filings that Marquis “had full and sole control of the said bank account(s) and the business of the applicant. He was the sole custodian and controller of the applicant’s funds and bank accounts.” No other individual, including Brody, had access to these resources.
The company alleges that Marquis conducted multiple unauthorised transactions, leading to a total loss of M10 million (€535,000). The lawsuit emphasises Marquis’s fiduciary responsibilities as a director. Nash noted that Marquis “owed a duty to act in good faith, with loyalty and in the best interests of the company, not for his own benefit”. He was expected to handle funds carefully and avoid actions that could damage the firm. Instead, the company claims, Marquis breached this trust by redirecting money from the betting operations’ revenues.
Worldstar, which operates in Lesotho’s growing online gambling sector, says the loss has directly affected its financial stability. The firm has demanded repayment multiple times, and Marquis reportedly admitted responsibility while promising to return the funds but has not followed through.
The suit seeks a court order for Marquis to repay the full amount plus 18.5 per cent interest from the date of the alleged thefts until settlement.
This incident highlights challenges in oversight within small-scale betting enterprises in Southern Africa, where individual directors often manage key financial controls. Worldstar’s case may prompt other operators to review internal safeguards to protect against similar risks.
However, Marquis has not yet responded publicly to the allegations, and the matter awaits a court hearing.
