Maseru, Mar.02 — The prosecution in a case in which four police officers are charged with the murder of their colleague Police Constable Mokalekale Khetheng has on Monday continued with cross-examination of Retired Inspector Mothibeli Mofolo.
The witness who is one of the accused has been on the stand as one of the defence witnesses and he has denied involvement in the alleged killing of the deceased.
He was on Monday told by the prosecution that on March 26 2016, he, together with his co-accused Senior Inspector Mabitle Matona and Sub-Inspector Haleokoe Taasoane formed a team which questioned Khetheng.
He was further told that it was during the same questioning that the deceased met his demise.
The witness conceded that on that day he was acting as Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) as his superior was absent.
He indicated that he was, however, under the supervision of the District Police Commander (DISPOL).
He said it was possible that he could ask for assistance from other Officers in Charge with skills and manpower as well as with investigations. He however emphasised that it would depend on circumstances.
Mofolo informed the court that he could not take his co-accused from their office to assist him without going through his superiors first. He said he could only ask them to instruct officers under them to assist him.
He denied evidence by one of the state witnesses Senior Superintendent Phahla Letsosa that the offices of his co-accused were asked for assistance because of their skills.
He said that would be done if there was something happening.
In his evidence in chief, the witness has revealed that he was instructed by one of his co-accused Retired Superintendent Thabo Ts’ukulu, who was at that time heading the Hlotse Police Station, to have Khetheng brought to the station on March 26 2016.
He testified that he directed police officers Makotoko, Mphutlane and Ntoane who were at Ha Khabo to bring along Khetheng on their way back.
He stated that when he was eventually brought to the police station, he told him to wait for Ts’ukulu at a visitors’ waiting area.
The accused insisted that Khetheng was never under arrest on that day. He refuted allegations that he admitted to one of the state witnesses ‘Manthuseng Tulo, that the police killed the deceased.
The accused were initially charged together with former Commissioner of Police Molahlehi Letsoepa who reportedly fled the country.
He however came back in 2025 and is currently out on bail.
They were also charged with the current Minister of Labour and Employment Ts’eliso Mokhosi who however got the charges against him later dropped.
It is alleged that Khetheng met his death in March 2016 following his arrest by the Hlotse Police.
The defence insist that he disappeared from the police when he was to meet his superiors.
The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.
Ends/SM
