Keiso Mohloboli
Matšeliso Anna Molise—the estranged wife of Maseru businessman Peter Frederiksen who is currently in remand prison in South Africa after being arrested for possessing 21 pieces of female genital in his freezer at his Bloemfontein home—was shot by unknown gunmen near her Naledi residence on Tuesday night and died at Tšepong Hospital yesterday morning.
Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) spokesperson, Clifford Molefe, confirmed the fatal shooting of a Mosotho woman “between her home and a taxi/bus stop in Naleli” but would not confirm if it was Ms Molise.
“The police report I have shows that the now deceased was accompanying her visitor to the taxi rank between 7pm and 8pm when she was shot. She was immediately taken to a local referral hospital for medical assistance. The doctors declared the woman dead this morning but I cannot release her identity,” Senior Inspector Molefe told the Lesotho Times.
However, sources told the Lesotho Times that the victim was 24-year-old Ms Molise. According to the South African media, Ms Molise was set to testify against her husband on 4 November. The Lesotho Times understands she blew Frederiksen’s covert operation, leading to the Dane’s arrest. The genital parts were believed to have been removed from Basotho women.
South African Police Service spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, was quoted by the South African media yesterday: “It is suspected to be a hit. We are deeply saddened about the murder as she had been an integral part of the investigations against her husband. She went to Lesotho leaving behind her two children in South Africa and refusing an offer of witness protection.”
Frederiksen faces three charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one charge of assault involving a minor, possession and manufacture of child pornography, removal of human tissue in contravention of the Health Act and bigamy. The accused allegedly married Ms Molise while he already had a wife in Denmark, hence the bigamy charge.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Associated Press (AP) upon his arrest, Frederiksen said he and Ms Molise split earlier this year, and blamed his wife for the grisly discovery.
“I have told her to come and fetch these things (referring to the genitalia); it is her fridge,” he told AP.
On the pornographic photos found in his possession, Frederiksen told the news agency he was allowed to photograph women being circumcised while he was visiting the remote areas of Lesotho.
According to Mail Online, Frederiksen allegedly told the police he kept a record of every body part, who it belonged to and when it was removed. South African police were also quoted as saying his first alleged victim was in 2010.
Police also found a video of a woman being operated on, as well as child pornography images. They also found medical surgical equipment and anaesthetic during their search at Frederiksen’s Central Free State house.
According to the Daily Star, Frederiksen fled prosecution for illegal possession of weapons in Denmark and sought South African citizenship in 2006.
