MINISTER MAINTAINS HE SAW THE ACCUSED NUMBER SIX IN AN ARMY VAN

 


The Minister of Natural Resources, Mr Monyane Moleleki, has maintained that he saw the accused number six, among Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) soldiers who abducted him from government quarters, at Maseru West, on April 14,1994.            

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Advocate Thabo Nteso in the High Court on Thursday 26 September 2002, at an on going case in which 24 LDF members are charged with murder of former Deputy Prime Minister the late Selometsi Baholo, the Minister said he could not recall as to whether Captain Tankiso Majoro was on the back of the army van, or in a cab.              

He however maintained that, the accused was among soldiers who abducted him, together with the former Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Mr Kelebone Maope. He refuted the defence counsel's statement that he had seen Majoro at Maseru West at 6 0'clock, and that 10 minutes later he was at Qoaling mountain, where he was conveying soldiers in an army vehicle.                 

Mr Moleleki said he saw the accused number six very well, and that as far as he knows, none of their abductors remained at either Maseru West or went to any other place. He added that, all the soldiers who abducted them left together with them to Makoanyane Barracks. He stated that, besides Nthako, he recognised Majoro as the second soldier among those who had abducted them on that day. He said he
could not remember other soldiers besides those two.             

Twenty-four LDF members are facing a Murder charge of the former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Selometsi Baholo, and a Kidnapping rap of cabinet ministers, on April 14, 1994. The case that is before Justice Semapo Peete is continuing. The prosecutor is Mr. Roland Suhr, while defence counsels include Advocates Hae Phoofolo, Thabo Nteso, Molefi Ntlhoki and Ts'upane Maieane.

26 Septenber,2002

  SOURCE: LENA