| MONYAU PERSUADED ME TO BE PART OF PLOT TO ARREST SENIOR ARMY OFFICERS-SEBAJOE | |
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A Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Officer says he was persuaded by a
Roman Catholic Priest, Father Anthony Thabo Monyau, to be part of a plot to
arrest senior LDF army officers on September 4, 1998, and that if he
co-operated he would not be arrested. Brigadier Filipi Sebajoe was giving
evidence in the Lesotho High Court on Monday, in a case in which Father Monyau is facing among other charges of High Treason. He indicated that, he had been to a meeting at the Police headquarters on
that day from morning to lunch time and that it was to continue in the
afternoon but when he arrived at Ratjomose Barracks where his office is, he
received a message from a certain soldier who informed him that Father
Monyau phoned him, and requested him to call him back when he arrived.
Brigadier Sebajoe pointed out that, he immediately phoned, and that when
Father Monyau heard his voice he told him to meet him at the " Our Lady
of Victory mission," as there was an urgent matter he wished to discuss
with " When I arrived at the Roman Catholic Church the accused took me to a Convent house, where he immediately reported to me that he had an intention of arresting senior army officers of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), and that if I could co-operate, I would not be arrested," he disclosed. He stated that, he asked the accused how he was going to effect the arrest of the officers, and he said there were more than 100 junior officers of the LDF, who were under his control. He said among those he would arrest would be the LDF Commander, Lieutenant General Makhula Mosakeng, Colonel Lesitsi, Lefosa and other officers. He said when he asked him what Lieutenant General Mosakeng had done to him, the accused said he dislikes the Roman Catholic Church, and asked him (witness) whether he did not know whether Mosakeng fights the church and that again he has no justice as he failed to take action against Matobakele. The witness said he told Father Monyau that he would not be part of the ploy, and that they ended up shouting at one another, after which he left for Ha Ratjomose to inform Lieutenant General Mosakeng, about the discussions he had with the accused. Father Anthony Thabo Monyau is charged with High Treason, and
Contravention of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act of 1981, as
amended, after having allegedly coerced with some members of the LDF to
arrest senior LDF officers, and topple a government of the Lesotho Congress
for Democracy (LCD), on September 11,1998 The case that is before Justice
Ts'eliso Monaphathi, is continuing. The prosecutor is Advocate Pingla Hemraj,
while the defence counsel is Advocate Kananelo Mosito. | |
| SOURCE: LENA |