New dates for treason case

Mohloai Mpesi

New dates have been set for a criminal high treason case in which the two politicians are charged.

The case is set for next Monday where the two politicians; Lesotho Congress for Democrats (LCD) leader and Former Deputy-Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing and the Movement for Economic Change (MEC) leader and Minister of Development Planning Selibe Mochoboroane have applied for a petition not to join the already accused, former army Commander Tlali Kamoli, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Lance Corporal Leutsoa Motsieloa and Motloheloa Ntsane.

The accused are charged for the August 30, 2014 attempted coup.

This was mentioned by the Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane on Wednesday that the pretrial case will be staged on Wednesday next week presided by him.

“On Monday there will be a debate regarding an application lodged by Mochoboroane and Metsing challenging their joinder into the case. The pretrial case will be on Wednesday,” he said.

Elsewhere, the high profile cases in the High Court which had become vacant after the resignation of the Botswana born Judge, Onkemetse Tshosa have been allocated local judges.

 A case in which Kamoli is accused alongside Major Pitso Ramoepana, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Sergeant Malefane Heqoa and Corporal Mohlalefi Seitlheko in connection to the January 27, 2014’s bombings of the former first lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane’s home will be heard by Justice Moroke Mokhesi.

While a case in which 10 soldiers Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi (43), Captain Mahlehle Moeletsi (50), Lance Corporal Mahlomola Makhoali (32), Private Nthatakane Motanyane, (24), Brigadier Rapele Mphaki (47), MotÅ¡oane Machai (39), Liphapang Sefako (48) and Nemase Faso (28) were charged for allegedly strangling Lekhoele Noko, Molise Pakela and Khothatso Makibinyane at Setibing on May 16, 2017 and dumping his body in the Mohale Dam, will be heard before Justice Polo Banyane. The dates were previously set for argument on March 23, 24, 25, 26 and 6 April, 2021.  

The defense council then besought that Justice Molefi Makara who was then presiding over the case to postpone the case to another date to await the upshots of the ongoing constitutional case, (Court of appeal civil number 49/2020 which will be heard on April 14, 2021).