Mohloai Mpesi
Advocate Motia Teele KC who is a legal representative to the Minister of Development Planning, Selibe Mochoboroane has filed a motion to quash murder and treason charges.
This is a case in which the former army boss, Lieutenant General Tlali Kennedy Kamoli, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Motloheloa Ntsane, Leutsoa Motsieloa, Selibe Mochoboroane are charged together for crimes allegedly committed in August 2014, while the leader of Lesotho Congress for Democrats (LCD) Mothetjoa Metsing, who was supposed to be joined in the matter. failed to avail himself propelling the court to issue warrant of arrest against him.
“I previously requested particulars and I was served with a 500 paged response. I have gone through them and am of the view that the charges cannot be allowed to stand and I am working on a motion to quash the case.
“As far as the fifth accused is concerned, I am not prepared to have him plead to these charges; I want to apply for quashing of these charges on the basis of what I have seen on the particulars read with the original indictment.
“In terms of section 160 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, when an accused intends to apply to have a charge quashed under section 159 or to plead under any pleads mentioned under section 162, they shall give reasonable notice regard being heard,†Teele said.
The accused are charged for August 30, 2014 events wherein members of the army invaded inter alia, the Police Headquarters in the capital Maseru where officers were assaulted, rounded up and one Sub-Inspector Mokheseng Ramahloko was murdered.
It was on the same day that the army had been alleged to have attempted a coup when they had attacked the State House forcing the then Premier Tom Thabane to go into hiding fearing for his life.
At the time, Kamoli was army chief, Mochoboroane was Minister of Communications, Science and Technology while Metsing was the Deputy Premier with the other accused member of the army.
The case is before Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane.
