…faces jail for contempt of court
…as Molibeli takes the witness box
Moorosi Tsiane
FORMER Police Commissioner, Kizito Mhlakaza, has allegedly refused to testify against former army commander, Tlali Kamoli, and eight other soldiers accused of the 25 June 2015 murder of former army commander, Maaparankoe Mahao.
This according to the case’s lead prosecutor, Rethabile Setlojoane, who told the court that they intend to have Mr Mhlakaza jailed for declining to assist the court despite having been served with a subpoena.
Advocate Setlojoane informed trial judge, Justice Charles Hungwe, that he had intended to call in Mr Mhlakaza as the next witness after another former Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana had completed giving his evidence.
Adv Setlojoane had also called another former Police Commissioner, Holomo Molibeli, to testify.
Mr Mhlakaza served as the commissioner from 2012 to 2014 during the height of political unrest which led to the demise of Lieutenant General Mahao. Mr Tšooana served from 2014 to 2015 while Mr Molibeli served from 2017 to 2024.
Mr Tšooana completed his evidence around 3.30pm when Mr Mhlakaza was supposed to take the stand.
But Adv Setlojoane asked for a short adjournment to call another witness (Molibeli), claiming Mr Mhlakaza had refused to come and testify despite him being served and agreeing.
“My Lord, we have encountered a predicament in the manner we had wanted to present our witnesses. We had intended to call in Mr Mhlakaza as our next witness, but he has refused despite him being served with a subpoena. But we have his return of service which we will use to apply for his warrant of arrest,” Adv Setlojoane said.
“We ask for the court’s indulgence as we call our next witness which is Mr Holomo Molibeli.”
After a 15 minutes adjournment, Mr Molibeli who has just retired as the Commissioner of Police, took the witness stand and was led in evidence by Crown counsel, Lehlohonolo Phoko, who is assisting Adv Setlojoane.
Mr Molibeli told the court that during his time as an acting Commissioner of Police in 2015 there seemed to be a lot of tension in the country and there was animosity between police and soldiers.
“There seemed to be a lot of tension in the country around 2015 when I was acting as the commissioner. Mr Kamoli was the commander then. There was no stability and there was a high crime risk as there was no corporation between the army and police. There was no trust between these two institutions and therefore even some of the operations meant to curb crime could no longer be held successfully,” said Mr Molibeli.
Mr Molibeli said one of the examples which illustrated lack of corporation between the army and police was when the police were investigating a 2012 Mafeteng shooting incident which claimed the lives of three civilian. He said the army had refused to hand over the guns which were allegedly used by soldiers to shoot those civilians.
“Things started to get better in 2017 during the tenure of Lt-Gen (Khoantle) Motšomotšo as soldiers started to corporate and that is the reason why we are here today.”
The case will continue today with Mr Molibeli continuing with his evidence on the events that led to the death of Lt-Gen Mahao.
Lt-Gen Mahao was shot and killed by his colleagues on the 25 June 2015 at Ha Lekete, Mokema in Maseru. Kamoli is charged in this case alongside Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Captain Haleo Makara, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi, Sergeant Motsamai Fako, Corporals Marasi ‘Moleli, Motšoane Machai, Mohlalefi Seitlheko and Tšitso Ramoholi.
