Maseru, Dec.09— As the prosecution in a case in which Former Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli and four army members are accused of the bombings that occurred in 2014, continues to present expert evidence, the court was on Tuesday told that a device used for the explosions was a military weapon.
In his evidence, Chief Inspector of Explosives from the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant Colonel Mokete Nyama stated that in January 2014 when he and his colleagues came for a post blast investigation following explosions at houses in Ha Abia and Moshoeshoe II, they were given a round 40 millimetres HE (High Explosive) which had not exploded and were told it was found at the scene.
He testified that he advised the Lesotho Police that the device had to be destroyed in order to save lives and property. He pointed out that due to the absence of explosives disposal facilities in Lesotho, the exercise was done at Botshabelo in South Africa. He said they safely transported the device using a bomb disposal vehicle.
The witness indicated that he destroyed the device adding that the crater where it had exploded was similar to the craters and holes found at the houses in Ha Abia and Moshoeshoe II where the explosions had occurred. He added that the fragments collected following the destruction of the device were similar to those found at the crime scenes. He emphasised that it therefore could be concluded that it was the round 40 millimetres HE that exploded in those houses.
He pointed out that as the cartridge case for the device which had a lot number was not recovered, it was difficult for the manufacturer to say which client it was sold to.
Lieutenant Colonel Nyama was during examination by Advocate Letuka Molati informed that illegal weapons dealing is one of the lucrative businesses. He was also told that in the past, there was a unit comprising both the army and the police in Lesotho.
Kamoli is in this case charged together with Pitso Ramoepane, Litekanyo Nyakane, Mohlalefi Seitlheko and Heqoa Malefane. The charges they are facing comprise attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
The alleged offences occurred at the home of Liabiloe Ramoholi (Maesiah Thabane) at Moshoeshoe II and that of Former Commissioner of Police ( COMPOL) Khothatso Tsooana at Ha Abia.
The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.
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