Maseru, July 16 — A prosecutor in a case against nine members of the army who are charged with the murder of Maaparankoe Mahao, Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane, has on Thursday told Retired Major General Tumo Lekhooa that he is a Colonel not a Major General.
This he said as he continued to cross-examined him while on the stand as one of the defence witnesses.
The Prosecutor stated that the witness was never promoted from the rank of Colonel adding that the army commander never recommended his promotion.
“You are deliberately lying to the Court under oath when you refer to yourself as Major General”, he said.
The witness insisted that he is a Major General adding that his promotion was made by the then Prime Minister Dr. Pakalitha Mosisili upon recommendation by the then Army Commander Mots’omots’o. He pointed out that the rank to which he was promoted was however ignored by the government and the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). He added that for reasons he cannot disclose, he was referred to as Colonel in his retirement letter.
The Prosecutor also told the witness that his evidence is hearsay adding that he said nothing about the current case and the death of Mahao, therefore it should not be considered. He added that he is being investigated by the police concerning what he lied to the Court about.
The defence expressed discomfort about what the prosecutor said. They indicated that it is unfair that they bring witnesses to testify before the Court and they are harassed afterwards.
Adv. Napo Mafaesa stated that the defence needs to know who is investigating the witness and on what charge.
“What crime has he committed to come before the court to testify,” he asked.
He indicated that it is unfair for the prosecution to make threats and abuse their power. He emphasised that the defence will not be intimidated adding that the lawyers will continue to defend their clients.
The witness who served the army in the Military Intelligence and is also Former Director General of National Security Services (NSS) is facing similar charges as the accused in the current case. He is also charged with treason which allegedly occurred in 2014. The trials against him have not yet commenced because he fled the country in 2017
before they began. He is now on bail following his return and arrest in 2025.
The defence has since January 2026 been presenting its case before the Court following their unsuccessful application for discharge.
Among the defence witnesses who have already testified are the accused Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Captain Haleeo Makara who admitted that he shot Mahao and Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi as well as the late Corporal Molise Molieleng and Retired Major ‘Mamatela Hokinyana who worked at the Makoanyane Military Hospital in 2015 and was one of the medical staff which attended to the deceased before he was pronounced dead.
The accused who include Retired Army Commander Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli are alleged to have intentionally shot and killed Mahao at Ha Lekete in Mokema on June 25 2015.
They are also charged with attempted murder, theft and unlawful damage to property.
The case is before Justice Charles Hungwe.
Ends/SM/tl
