Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lehlohonolo Lesenyo, 28, a South African national from Welkom, is a self-proclaimed prophet with a sweet tongue. When he arrived in Lesotho, he told people that he was a “prophet” with divine powers to see beyond their problems and help them deal with their anxieties.
But they had to pay him first. And they did. Last week, the tables were turned against the “prophet” after two Hlotse residents reported Lesenyo to the police accusing him of fleecing them of their money.
The two allege that the “prophet” swindled them of M13 600. Lesenyo was remanded in custody by the Leribe Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The charge sheet says on January 7 this year at Ha-Tlai-Tlai in Hlotse, Lesenyo unlawfully and with intent to defraud and steal, misrepresented to Police Constable Qoo that he was a prophet.
It says Lesenyo misrepresented himself as a prophet who could help her out of her misery. This, the prosecution said, he did so knowing that he was a fake prophet.
Through the misrepresentation, Lesenyo illegally took M12 600 from PC Qoo. From there, Lesenyo allegedly went and told Kelebone Makoae that he was a prophet and could help him out of his distresses.
Makoae gave him M1 000 as a payment. When he appeared before the magistrate on Friday, Lesenyo pleaded with the court to have mercy on him. He was however remanded in custody pending the hearing of his case on December 18.
Lesenyo told the court that after his arrest, Hlotse police officers took his belongings and never gave them back to him. His belongings included Dickies shirts, Ellesse track pants, a Samsung galaxy cell phone, a South African passport and ID, M1 000 cash and a Power Land school bag.
“I pray that the same be released to me,” he said. However, the court decided to postpone the matter in order to identify whether the property forms part of the exhibit or not.
Advocate Molemohi Ntebelle, for the prosecution, told the court that they have tried to look for the LMPS 12 form without success. An LMPS 12 is a form that records all seized exhibits that are presented before the clerk of court.
Advocate Ntebelle told the court that they have also talked to the investigating officer, Police Constable Thulo, about the matter. “He does not have the LMPS 12 in his possession,” Advocate Ntebelle said.
Advocate Ntebelle told the court that they have no other alternative but to have the property released to the accused. “He could lawfully possess it,” he said. Magistrate Itumeleng Mofikoane ordered the Hlotse police to release all the materials to Lesenyo. The case was postponed to December 18 for hearing.
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