…as Likotsi challenges Ramokhoro’s chairmanship
Mohloai Mpesi
CORRUPTION-accused Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) Principal Investigation Officer (PIO), Tsotang Likotsi, has thrown spanners into his impending disciplinary hearing by demanding the recusal of the presiding officer, Litelu Ramokhoro, whom he also accuses of corruption.
Mr Ramokhoro, the Director for Public Education and Corruption Prevention (PECP), was appointed to chair Mr Likotsi’s disciplinary tribunal after the latter was suspended in March 2025 by new DCEO Director General (DG-DCEO) Brigadier Advocate Mantšo Sello, for among other things, receiving kickbacks to let cases disappear.
He nonetheless denies the allegations and has gone to court to challenge the efforts to dismiss him.
The DCEO was now set to proceed with the disciplinary hearing but Mr Likotsi instead filed an application at the DCEO this week seeking Mr Ramokhoro’s removal from the case.
He claims Mr Ramokhoro is unfit to preside over the matter as he is allegedly corrupt and under police investigation.
Mr Likotsi alleges that Mr Ramokhoro helped shield former Deputy Prime Minister and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader, Mothetjoa Metsing, from facing money laundering charges dating back to 2015.
According to Mr Likotsi, Mr Metsing has been laundering money through the Lesotho Anglican Church since 2011, but the investigation was frustrated under Mr Ramokhoro’s leadership.
He also claims that Commissioner of Police Borotho Matsoso, who is also a former DCEO Director General (2013–2019), was aware of Mr Ramokhoro’s actions in relation to Mr Metsing and the Anglican Church case. Mr Likotsi has now reported the matter to the police.
“When the case began, Compol Matsoso was still the DG-DCEO. I wrote to him because he knows the role the chairman played in stalling the case,” Mr Likotsi claims.
Advocate Matsoso confirmed to this publication last week that he had received Mr Likotsi’s letter about his Metsing accusations and is attending to it.
Mr Likotsi therefore wants Mr Ramokhoro investigated first before presiding over his case.
“I have opened a criminal case against the chairman of the disciplinary inquiry. He is a suspect in criminal activities. I raised this issue in a High Court case, pointing out that it threatens the predictability, consistency, and integrity of the DCEO’s operations.
“In an effort to silence me from pursuing the corruption charges against Mr Metsing, the chairman approached me and tried to persuade me that the charges were unsubstantiated. I disagreed, which created a toxic atmosphere between us. He then refused to engage with me further on the matter.
“In an interesting turn of events, I sent a letter to him, in his capacity as Acting DG-DCEO, regarding investigations into Mr Metsing’s alleged money laundering to request access to relevant records from the Anglican Church of Lesotho.”
He also claims Mr Ramokhoro had attempted to derail the investigation while he was still acting DG-DCEO, though he did not specify the period during which Mr Ramokhoro held that position.
Mr Likotsi further claims that before he could submit his report on the Anglican Church, Mr Ramokhoro wrote to him, ordering him to stop the investigation on the grounds that the church should not be involved in a criminal case.
“Before the letter could be formally served to his office, a response was issued rejecting the investigation, insisting the church should not be part of any criminal probe.
“For the record, Mr Metsing is facing criminal prosecution which the chairman has stalled for over 10 years.”
Mr Likotsi argues that not only Mr Ramokhoro but the entire DCEO should be investigated by the police. He is calling for a probe into his allegations of illegal withdrawals of cases and the exposure of colleagues he claims have been leaking dockets to suspects and conspiring against him.
“It is my intention to see all those involved in wrongdoing investigated, including colleagues who facilitated illegal case withdrawals, and those in leadership positions who protect leaks and persecute whistle-blowers like myself,” he said.
“I proceed from the premise that Mr Ramokhoro, who is statutorily tasked with fighting corruption, is in fact, facilitating it. He should be charged with defeating the ends of justice.
“It is also telling that the Commissioner of Police and the chairman worked together at DCEO for a long time. I must note that the chairman has never declared a conflict of interest in matters involving Mr Metsing, despite their close ties. His role at DCEO requires impartiality.
“He even reproached me for refusing to drop the investigation involving his Anglican Church. He cannot be the chair of my disciplinary hearing. I maintain that no criminal suspect should chair any disciplinary process as a matter of law.”
