Maseru, Jan.19—- The prosecution in a case in which nine members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) including Retired Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli are charged with the murder of Maaparankoe Mahao has on Monday told one of the accused that a team which was tasked to arrest mutiny suspects, had a motive to shoot and kill the deceased.
During cross-examination of Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Advocate Lehlohonolo Phooko put it to him that the planned arrest on the deceased was different from the arrest of other members of general staff. He stated that the team which was going to arrest Mahao was made up of juniors adding that it was contrary to military writings and the LDF Act.
The prosecution lawyer further told the accused that it was inappropriate for the arresting team to have used blue number plates on the vehicles they utelised. He pointed out that in his evidence, the accused stated that such number plates are used by officers on the rank of Brigadiers and the above ranks. He indicated that they used such number plates in order to hide their identity.
The accused indicated that there was nothing wrong for the juniors to arrest a senior because they were authorised to do so. He insisted that there is nothing wrong in the manner in which the operation against Mahao was conducted.
The prosecutor further put to the witness that majority of the arresting team were promoted following the death of Mahao adding that was done as a way of saying thank you for a job well done.
The accused responded that the promotions had nothing to do with the death of the deceased. He pointed out that if the promotions were done as compensation to the team, they had to be done by the then Major General Khoantle Mots’omots’o who ordered the mutiny suppression.
The accused are alleged to have shot and killed the deceased on June 25 2015 at Ha Lekete in Mokema. They are facing several other charges in relation to this matter comprising attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.
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