Africa-Press – Lesotho. Adv. Letuka Molati, one of the defence lawyers in an ongoing murder trial against nine army members charged with the murder of Maaparankoe Mahao, says evidence by Retired Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) Kizito Mhlakaza is intended to assassinate the character of one of the accused in this matter Retired Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli.
Retired COMPOL Mhlakaza has testified that during his time as COMPOL and Kamoli as the Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), there was no cooperation between the police and the army. He gave an example of a case which occurred at Ha Motanyane in Mafeteng in April 2012 whereby five army members and three civilians were involved.
He stated that he requested the army commander to facilitate release of firearms used in the incident, but there was no response. He added that he later requested for assistance from the commander so that officers involved in the incident could report to the Mafeteng’s Magistrate Court for remand but there was still no response and the officers did not show up before the court.
The witness added that even after the court issued summons for the officers, the army through the Military Police refused to receive the summons indicating that there was no instruction to do that. He further added that even an effort by the Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane and Minister Mophato Monyake to intervene was not successful.
He stated that when he retired in 2014, the matter was still not resolved.
Adv. Molati argued that the evidence is irrelevant adding that it has nothing to do with any of the charges in the indictment. He further added that Kamoli is not even charged for the conduct alleged through the evidence. He requested that the evidence be struck off.
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