Africa-Press – Lesotho. THREE young men who ran fake Facebook accounts with sexual innuendos about King Letsie III, Queen ’Masenate and Princess Senate are in big trouble with the law.
The men are Achi Chaotsane, 22, Thabo Ralepoma, 20, from Leribe Ha-Chonapase in Maputsoe, and Seeiso Makoaba, 24, from Berea, Lithabaneng Ha-Sekhukhuni.
The three posted raunchy comments on their Facebook pages and other foul jokes about the royal family. Their followers also posted rude comments on the pages.
The three have now been arrested and charged with contravening section 79 of the Penal Code Act which says “a person who knowingly commits any act calculated to violate the dignity or injure the reputation of the Royal Family commits an offence”.
The trio appeared before the Maseru Magistrates’ Court last Friday and were granted M1 500 bail each, which they failed to pay. They were then remanded to Maseru prison. They will appear before the court again on Tuesday next week.
Police Constable Maritintši Mothebesoane from the Cyber Security Department said their office became suspicious of the Facebook account called King Letsie, another called ’Mamohato Bereng Seeiso and Mary Senate Khosatsana.
“These accounts always post embarrassing things about the royal family,” PC Mothebesoane said. He said after noticing the fake accounts they began investigating to find the owners of the accounts.
He also said they found out that Chaotsane uses the account called King Letsie III, Thabo Ralepoma uses the one called ’Mamohato Bereng Seeiso while Seeiso Makoaba is using the one called Mary Senate Khosatsana.
“We also discovered that the trio are best friends in real life,” he said.
The Cyber Security Department manager, Senior Inspector Thabang Futhoane, appealed to people who are using fake accounts to stop because people’s names are misused and crimes are committed using them.
Meanwhile, the fake accounts were still active this week. One of the posts, appearing in a wall as if it belongs to the King, goes the salacious route, with damaging comments about personal matters. The Facebook pages impersonate the royal family with fake posts from the King, Queen and the Princess, bringing the royal family into disrepute.
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