Africa-Press – Lesotho. TEBOHO Tlokotsi, a businessman who was detained and interrogated by the army two weeks ago, has demanded that the army withdraws its libellous statement or he will sue for M2.5 million for “character assassination”.
Tlokotsi, who runs Fleet Services Lesotho, wants the army to withdraw its statement that was made on Moafrika FM radio station alleging that he made terrorist threats to a senior government official.
Failure to withdraw the statement within 21 days, according to a letter his lawyers Maqakachane Chambers wrote to the army boss, will leave him with no option but to sue for M2.5 million.
Tlokotsi has also demanded a separate M5 million from the principal secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Nthoateng Lebona, who he alleges threatened him.
Tlokotsi, a shareholder and manager of Fleet Services Lesotho, was arrested after appearing before the parliamentary Economic Cluster Committee in connection with the M45 million the government owes his company.
The hearing was in camera. Shortly after getting out of the meeting and was heading home he found soldiers blocking the road. They took him to the Makoanyane barracks and later on the same day took him to the army headquarters at Ha-Ratjomose for further questioning.
Maqakachane Chambers’ letter to Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela says he should “recant the defamatory and character assassination remarks made by LDF’s Lieutenant Colonel Sakeng Lekola on 23 November 2023 over Moafrika FM”.
The letter says the army boss should withdraw the statement “to the effect that our client is involved and suspected of acts of Litšoso tsa bokhukhuni ho e ’ngoe ea liofisiri tse kholo tsa ’muso (terrorist threats made to the government’s top official)”.
The letter demands that Lt Col Lekola must go back to Moafrika FM to publish the necessary apology. “We expect the LDF to recant the said statement and to publish the necessary apology aforesaid on or before 21 days of receipt” of this letter.
The other letter is addressed to Lebona and it states that their client has instructed them to demand payment of M5 million as damages for the defamatory statement that she made and published to the LDF.
The letter says Lebona should withdraw the statement “that our client is involved in acts of terrorism against you”. “That statement led to our client being arrested by the LDF,” the letter reads.
Tlokotsi’s lawyers say the statement has soiled the good name of their client adding that they expect her to repair the damage caused on their client as demanded within 31 days of receipt of the letter.
“Failing which, our client will have no other alternative but to approach the courts of Lesotho judicial jurisdiction where our client will claim M5 000 000 damages for the aforesaid defamation,” the letter says.
The army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sakeng Lekola, said he is aware of such a letter. When asked if he will apologise to save the army from a hefty lawsuit, Lt Col Lekola said he does not know as he takes orders from his bosses.
Lt Col Lekola declined to comment if he indeed made such statements about Tlokotsi. “The matter now involves lawyers, I do not want to talk much about it,” he said. Lebona could not be reached for comment last night.
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