By Keiso Mohloboli and Billy Ntaote
MASERU –– The deputy leader of the Democratic Congress (DC) Monyane Moleleki, who had been arrested yesterday afternoon, was finally released just before midnight following the intervention of Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana.
The Lesotho Times last night witnessed a police convoy escorting Moleleki, who was in the company of his lawyer Advocate Salemane Phafane, to his Qoatsaneng residence after the release.
Phafane told this paper at Moleleki’s home that Tšooana had called him to his office to inform him he was not aware of the court order seeking the ex-natural resources minister’s release.
Phafane said after he presented the order, the police commissioner finally ordered Moleleki’s release just before midnight.
A visibly ailing Moleleki was still cracking jokes when the Lesotho Times crew met him at his residence just after midnight soon after his release.
The former minister said he was grateful for the courtesy senior police officers had shown him during his arrest.
Moleleki said for the two hours he spent in the police cell, he could not even sleep but was standing all the time until deputy police commissioner, Masupha Masupha ordered that he should go to rest in one of the offices at the headquarters instead of being locked up in a cell.
Moleleki said officers who accompanied him to the office were wearing bulletproof vests, and told him they had been warned he controlled the army Special Forces, so they feared for their lives.
Moleleki’s wife, ‘Malimpho, said she was grateful that her husband, who has tonsillar cancer, was finally home and would be able to rest.
Meanwhile, the police had initially appeared determined to defy the court’s order, which had been issued and signed by Acting Chief Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi late yesterday afternoon.
Moleleki’s arrest followed a High Court order which dismissed his application challenging the magistrate’s bid to have him detained without a hearing.
Phafane this morning told the Lesotho Times: “ACJ Monaphathi ordered that I should come to the police headquarters with acting Assistant Registrar of the High Court Sharite. We did just that but to no avail.
“I waited for more than two hours with Sharite to present the court order to the police but was told that the officer responsible for such matters had knocked off at 4pm and would only be in office at 8am today.
“Luckily, he was finally released following the intervention of the police commissioner.”
Phafane further said Ntlhoi Motsamai, who acted as Moleleki’s surety, was also expected to be arrested as per Monaphathi’s judgment but it was surprising that nobody had said anything about her.
The Lesotho Times, however, understands Nthloi is out of the country on parliament business.
