Police spokesperson Inspector Mpiti Mopeli
’Marafaele Mohloboli
A SENIOR police officer responsible for procurement, Senior Superintendent Lebohang Setsomi, has fled the country claiming he was tipped-off that his life was in danger.
The Lesotho Times has learnt that Senior Supt Setsomi fled on Tuesday after allegedly receiving a tip-off that he would be arrested and interrogated over alleged bogus tender awards in the Police Ministry.
Police spokesperson, Inspector Mpiti Mopeli, said he was not aware of the issue.
“I cannot comment on this issue since I have no details on it and I am not even aware of it,” Inspector Mopeli said.
A lawyer claiming to represent Senior Supt Setsomi said the latter had called him to inform that he had fled the country.
Advocate Letuka Molati told this publication that “my client, police officer, Lebohang Setsomi told me that his life is in danger and therefore he has fled to South Africa”.
“He has noticed that there is no observation and respect for the rule of law in Lesotho and therefore he chose to flee other than feel sorry. He said he would rather run away than be killed because he has done nothing wrong,” Advocate Molati said.
Senior Supt Setsomi was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police by Police Commissioner, Molahlehi Letsoepa, who has since been sent on an involuntary 90-day leave by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.
He was promoted along with 35 other officers of various ranks and the decision announced a day after the 3 June 2017 National Assembly elections — which ended the tenure of the seven-party coalition government headed by former premier Pakalitha Mosisili.
The promotions had triggered a firestorm, with the four parties in the governing coalition accusing Commissioner Letsoepa of doing the former government’s bidding in a strategy to retain control even after losing power.
The governing parties — which include the All Basotho Convention, Alliance of Democrats, Basotho National Party and Reformed Congress of Lesotho — said the promotions were in keeping with Dr Mosisili’s alleged deployment of allies and family members in strategic areas of the government.
They claimed that Dr Thabane wanted to “rule from the grave”, referring to the former premier remaining in control of the government even after leaving office.
However, Commissioner Letsoepa had scoffed at the allegations, saying the promotions were not politically-motivated but based on merit. He asserted that the promoted officers satisfied the Board of Promotions’ criteria, adding that the LMPS had the financial wherewithal to pay their increased remuneration.
The Lesotho Police Staff Association (LEPOSA) has since dragged Commissioner Letsoepa to the High Court challenging the legality of the promotions.
LEPOSA also asked the court to temporarily halt the promotions and the revised salaries until it had finalised the application.
However, High Court judge, Justice ‘Maseshophe Hlajoane, ordered that the new promotions remain in force until the application had been finalised. The case is scheduled for hearing on 7 August 2017.
