| WE WERE DETAINED AND THROWN INTO MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON BY SOLDIERS-SEBAJOE | |
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A Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Officer on Monday told the Lesotho High Court how soldiers arrested him together with other senior officers of the LDF, including the Commander, Lieutenant General Makhula Mosakeng, at Ratjomose Barracks in Maseru, on September 11, 1998. During his testimony at an on going case in which a Roman Catholic Priest, Father Anthony Thabo Monyau, is accused of among other charges High Treason, Brigadier Filipi Sebajoe said he was with Brigadier Malikelle in an office they both shared, at Ha Ratjomose Barracks when Captain Mahase hurriedly got into the office, and told them that the soldiers were already arresting them. He said subsequent to that, Colonel Lesitsi burst in and told them a
similar story. He said they urged Colonel Lesitsi to lock the door and then
asked the two officers to relate the matter. Brigadier Sebajoe said
before the two officers could brief them, they " I immediately got up from my seat, and peeped through a window and saw a lot of soldiers who were heavily armed with rifles, having surrounded the office. Their rifles were pointing directly at us, " he related. He explained that they asked Colonel Lesitsi to open the door and that just as he did so, four soldiers who were carrying Galilee rifles entered. He said, he recognised two of the soldiers, Private Morema and Private
Phoka. He elaborated that, he asked Private Morema what they were doing and
that instead of answering him, he and his colleagues pushed them with
muzzles of their guns. He said from there the soldiers drove them to the
parade ground where they found other senior officers, together with many
soldiers.The LDF Officer elaborated that, they were ordered to get into
their vehicles and driven to Makoanyane Barracks, where other senior
officers were instructed to get in and they were eventually taken to the
Maximum Prison. Father Anthony Thabo Monyau is accused of among other charges High
Treason, and contravention of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 1981
as amended, after he allegedly conspired with other LDF officers, to arrest
senior officers of LDF as well as to murder the Prime Minister Mr Pakalitha
Mosisili, and his then cabinet ministers. The case that is before Justice
Ts'eliso Monaphathi is continuing. The Prosecutor is Mrs Pingla Hemraj,
while the Defence Counsel is Advocate Kananelo Mosito. | |
| SOURCE: LENA |