Maseru, Feb,13— Advocate Letuka Molati, one of the defence lawyers in an ongoing treason trial who is representing Retired Amy Commander Tlali Kasmoli says an operation which was conducted by the army in 2014 where they disarmed the police, was lawful.
This he said during cross-examination of Retired Major General Lineo Poopa who was testifying as a state witness adding that the operation was meant to preserve lives. He pointed out that there were weapons that were illegally in the hands of the police.
The lawyer told the witness that one of the orders for the operation was there should not be any exchange of fire with the police and if the police shoot, the army members should retreat. He indicated that inside a room in which the late Ramahloko was, there were other police officers who were however not shot or kiilled adding that they should come to court to explain what happened.
He stated that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Generals were misinformed when they were told that there was a coup in Lesotho. He said they were duly informed that there was no such when they met with Kamoli at Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
The witness had in his evidence, among others told the court that on August, 30, 2014, in the office of Kamoli which was attended by him,General Motsomotso and Colonel Teboho Ramoepana, Kamoli told them that there was an ongooing operation intended to disarm the police. . .
