Hopolang Mokhopi
THE Lehakoe Club manager, Senoko Pitikoe (40), has been remanded in custody pending a ruling on his bail application after appearing before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with sexually assaulting a female colleague who is said to be his former girlfriend.
Pitikoe appeared before Magistrate Puseletso McPherson, with Advocate Litlhare Rabale representing the Crown and Advocate Potso Mokhachane appearing for the defence.
According to the charge sheet, Pitikoe allegedly sexually assaulted his colleague on 17 October 2026 at a guest house in Ha Leqele, Maseru, after taking advantage of her being highly intoxicated.
The charge alleges that he attempted to force himself on her after they had been drinking at Headlines.
The charge was read to Pitikoe in a language he understands, and he was advised of his right to apply for bail and to legal representation of his choice, including through legal aid.
Applying for bail, Adv Mokhachane told the court that his client had cooperated with police investigations and was not a flight risk.
“He has a permanent job and a family that he takes care of. He has a minor child who is 10 years old and he is the one taking care of him,” Adv Mokhachane said.
However, Adv Rabale opposed the application and called the complainant to testify against bail.
The complainant told the court that she feared for her life and her job, alleging that Pitikoe had given her “mockery looks” when they met at work on Monday.
She said she and Pitikoe had previously been in a relationship, which she had ended several times, but he had refused to accept the break-ups.
“After breaking up, when he meets me he would act as if nothing happened between us,” she testified.
She further told the court that Pitikoe had recently asked her to accompany him to Bloemfontein, where he went to Woolworths to look for a pair of shoes she had previously told him she liked.
According to the complainant, he later asked when they would return to buy the shoes, but she told him she no longer liked them.
She also alleged that Pitikoe had asked her to accompany him to dinner on Thursday night, ahead of her birthday on Friday, but she declined.
The complainant said she worked at Lehakoe as a casual employee, while Pitikoe was a manager, and feared that their circumstances could leave her vulnerable at work.
“The way he looked at me showed no remorse of what he did to me,” she said.
Under cross-examination, Adv Mokhachane asked whether Pitikoe was her immediate supervisor and whether she had reported the alleged mocking looks to anyone at work.
She said he was not her immediate supervisor and that she had not reported the incident because her supervisor was occupied.
“I did not tell anyone because I felt like the matter was private,” she said.
Adv Mokhachane put it to her that Pitikoe had not given her mocking looks and had no influence over her work.
Magistrate McPherson reserved judgment on the bail application, saying she needed time to consider the arguments from both sides.
“I hate sexual offences with all my heart and I don’t wish it to happen to anyone. I need to think thoroughly and look on both sides because I see emotions on both sides, I need to be neutral,” she said.
She said she would deliver her ruling on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, sources close to the matter told the Lesotho Times that the alleged incident followed a staff party at Lehakoe, where employees had been drinking before proceeding to entertainment venues in Maseru.
According to one source, Pitikoe, the complainant and her friend left the workplace together and initially went to Panda before proceeding to Headlines Lakeside.
The source said the trio later decided to accompany the complainant’s friend to her home in Ha Thetsane.
“The complainant was highly intoxicated and slept in the car. They accompanied her friend to her place at Ha Thetsane,” the source said.
After dropping off the friend, Pitikoe and the complainant allegedly proceeded to a guest house in Ha Leqele.
“The complainant says she does not know how she ended up there. She woke up while the accused was trying to force himself on her, then she made noise and went outside naked,” the source said.
The source further alleged that Pitikoe attempted to flee, but the complainant got into the car and they drove away together.
They were reportedly stopped by a police officer near Lithabaneng and taken to a police station, where the complainant opened a case.
Pitikoe remains in custody pending the court’s decision on bail. The allegations have yet to be tested at trial.
