’Marafaele Mohloboli
AN attorney who survived an assassination attempt outside his Maseru law firm in July 2015 says the justice system “failed” him, since no arrests have been made to date.
Du Preez Liebetrau & Company Attorney and Partner, Kolisang Mochesane Lepholisa, said the police were still none the wiser about the identity of the person who shot him that fateful 31 July 2015 afternoon.
According to witnesses, the assailant had been sitting in a van parked close to Attorney Lepholisa’s car and pounced once the lawyer was about to drive away.
At the time, Atty Lepholisa’s colleague in the same law firm, Advocate Thabo Mpaka, had told the Lesotho Times’ sister paper, Sunday Express, that a security guard protecting the company’s premises had reported that Mr Lepholisa went to the parking lot where he had left his car at around 4:15pm.
“He got into his vehicle, and as he was preparing to drive away, a man came out of a van parked nearby and approached him.
“The man then opened fire and as soon as he heard the shooting, and Mr Lepholisa’s screams, the guard immediately rushed to the scene, prompting the culprit to run to the van and drive away at speed,” he said.
Atty Lepholisa sustained injuries just above the right eye and on the right ear in the melee and had to be hospitalised.
He told this publication this week shortly after the incident, some police officers came to his office with a purported lead in the investigation, “but to date they have never come back to me with anything solid”.
“It’s already two years since I was shot. The first time I ever heard from the police was when they came to meet me at the Maseru border gate to get a statement after I had been discharged from hospital,” said Atty Lepholisa.
Contacted for comment, police spokesperson Inspector Mpiti Mopeli said Atty Lepholisa should follow up on the matter with the police officers investigating the matter to get clarity on its progress.
“I think the best thing that he should do is to follow up on the matter himself without waiting for the police to contact him to ensure he speeds up the process,” said Insp Mopeli.
Atty Lepholisa’s ire was also directed at the Law Society of Lesotho and Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara whom he accused of not bothering to condemn the attack.
“It’s been a full two years since I was shot and nearly lost my life and the Law Society of Lesotho and the chief justice have never said a word to condemn my attack,” he said.
“Yet there are some obligations that I am expected to fulfil as an attorney.”
Atty Lepholisa added: “Only a few individuals from the legal fraternity sympathised with me during my time of need.
“One would have expected that since I am a member of the Law Society of Lesotho, the organisation would have at least issued a simple statement to condemn the attack. But years have gone by without even a cough.”
Chief Justice Majara was not reachable when contacted this week as she was outside the country.
High Court Registrar Lesitsi Mokeke told this reporter he was not in a position to comment as he would need her direction.
“However I would advise that you forward your questions in writing for her perusal once she is back in office,” he said.
For his part, Law Society of Lesotho President, Atty Tumisang Mosotho, said he would look into the matter since he was not yet in charge when the incident happened.
