By Tefo Tefo
MASERU — Acting Chief Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi on Tuesday ordered the arrest of former Likhetlane Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Libe Moremoholo, for contempt of court.
The High Court in March ordered Mr Moremoholo to vacate his Khubetsoana residence after failing to settle a M308 966.08 home-loan he has with Standard Lesotho Bank.
On April 3, Justice Monaphathi again ordered Mr Moremoholo to vacate the house by April 17, failure of which he would be arrested.
But after the Deputy Sherriff, Mr Lebohang Mika, complained to the judge that he could not execute the order because he had failed to access Mr Moremoholo’s premises, the judge on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the firebrand former All Basotho Convention (ABC) Youth League leader.
Mr Mika had also alleged he had failed to locate Mr Moremoholo.
Justice Monaphathi ruled: “The Registrar is directed to issue a warrant of arrest, whereby the 3rd Respondent (Commissioner of Police) is to arrest and bring the 1st and 2nd Respondents (Moremoholo and his wife, ‘Mamothebesoane, respectively) before court to be dealt with in the discretion of the court.
“The applicant, as Deputy Sheriff, is authorised, with the assistance of the 3rd Respondent, to gain forceful entry into Plot 13274-116, Khubetsoana, Maseru, and to evict the 1st and 2nd Respondents from the aforesaid property.”
Assistant Registrar, Mr Stafford Sharite, yesterday confirmed he had issued the warrant of arrest as ordered by Justice Monaphathi.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Mr Moremoholo said he was not aware of the warrant of arrest as he was not in Lesotho.
“I am not aware of the warrant of arrest you are referring to because I am not in the country at the moment. I am somewhere in South Africa and we are able to speak because I am roaming.
“I am surprised because I have already noted an appeal against the High Court judgment and I know, as a matter of fact, that my lawyer (Advocate Christopher Lephuthing) has noted the appeal.
“I don’t know if it’s proper to issue such a warrant when one has appealed against the court’s decision.
“Anyway, you can contact my lawyer to get a clear picture as to what is our legal stance on the matter, but I will be in the country this weekend,” he said.
Contacted yesterday, Mr Moremoholo’s lawyer, Advocate Lephuthing said: “I don’t speak to the media. I cannot say anything to you!”
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