’Marafaele Mohloboli
THE military police have handed over to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) an army officer of the rank of major to assist them with investigations into the assassination of army commander, Lieutenant-General Khoantle Motšomotšo.
Police Spokesperson, Inspector Mpiti Mopeli, last night confirmed the development, telling the Lesotho Times that the army officer (name withheld) could be charged with murdering Lt Gen Motšomotšo.
Lt-Gen Motšomotšo was shot dead on 5 September 2017 by Brigadier Bulane Sechele who had been accompanied by Colonel Tefo Hashatsi and a third officer on the fateful day at Ratjomose barracks office.
This is according to the government’s account which also states that Brig Sechele, Col Hashatsi and a third officer had confronted Lt-Gen Motšomotšo over the police’s investigation of three army officers implicated in the killing of a woman near the home of former LDF commander, Lt-Gen Tlali Kamoli.
After Lt-Gen Motšomotšo explained that the investigation was being conducted in the spirit of implementing Southern African Development Community (SADC) decisions to probe LDF members implicated in acts of criminality, Brig Sechele allegedly pulled out a firearm and fatally shot the army commander.
Brig Sechele and Col Hashatsi were pummelled with bullets by Lt-Gen Motšomotšo’s bodyguards outside his office after they realised what had happened to the LDF chief. Brig Sechele died on the spot, while Col Hashatsi died of his wounds in a nearby hospital.
The Lesotho Times has also learnt that there could be more arrests as another officer of the rank of captain remains in military detention indefinitely until such time when he shall be handed over to the police.
“The captain was detained on Monday and remains in military detention,” a source said.
However the LDF deputy spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mashili Mashili could neither confirm nor deny the reports saying he had been out of office for a while.
