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522
…says he was forced to liericeChief Executive
Morosi Zian
Captain Mahlehle Moeletsi, one of the soldiers accused of murdering three civilians in May 2017, burst into tears in court on Monday as he did a somersaultAHe pleaded guilty to the offence before Magistrate Peete Molapo on September 25, 2017.
Captain Mollets testified as a defence witness at the trialATrial to test admissibilityEvidence showed that he and his accomplices pointed out the location where they dumped the body.Lekhoele Noko, Molise Pakela and Khothatso Makibinyane. This is the state of the country;Strangled three people.threwIts bodyEntering Mohale Dam.
He was charged along with former military BroadCast Unitedligence chief General Lapelei Mfaji, Major Pisso Ramopane, Sergeant Lekoya Mopi, Lance Corporal Mahlomola Maholi, Private Ntakane Motanyane, Motswane Machayi, Tiho Tikiso, Lipapon Sefako and Nemas Faso.
Captain Molez told Judge Moroke Mohsei that police tortured him to force him to confess to killing three people andForce himsymbolAstatementto this endWhichThey are ready.
He told the court that he was arrested on September 21, 2017 and detained at the police headquarters where he was confronted by Sergeant Thamae Thamae, Inspector Beleme Lebajoa, Sergeant Mohanoe, Sergeant Nkiane, Constables Tankiso Lethoko, Seutloali, Nthejane and Tshabalala
Led by lawyer Letuka Morati, Captain Moletsi testified to the court that after his arrest, police gave him a statement to sign and when he refused to sign, police began to torture him.
“When I refused to sign the statement, they became angry and put a black plastic bag over my head until I lost consciousness. My hands were handcuffed and my legs were also cuffed.
“The torture took place three times that day (September 24, 2017), once in the morning, once at lunchtime and once late at night around 22:00,” Captain Moletsi said.
He said,“Late night torture“hesignedBecause he couldn’t stand it anymorepainThe next day, he was brought to the Maseru Magistrate’s Court to confess his guilt and was asked to repeat exactly what he had said in his confession.
“Lebajoa, Seutloali and Nkiane took me to the office of Ms. Thabisi (Commissioner for Oaths). After the introduction, she asked me how she could help and I told her I did not need her help. Lebajoa immediately handed her the statement and told her I was going to sign it. Ms. Thabisi said I should sign it and I told her I would not sign it because I did not provide any statement. She looked surprised and asked the officer what happened.…THey said I agreed to go there and sign.
“Ms Tabisi called another person named (Gcinumuzi) Tshabalala (prosecutor). After the briefing, he asked us to leave the office. When we left the office, we found a group of heavily armed police Special Operations Unit (SOU) members outside. The three officers who took me in told the other group outside that I had hurt them in the office.
“The Special Operations Team members said they would deal with the act later at the police headquarters and Seutloali and Lebajoa said I should pay for what I had done,” Officer Moeletsi said.
He said he was taken to the Molapo Magistrate’s office after Officer Seteloari made death threats against him.
“After they uncuffed me, Seteloari said I had a choice of life or death, or walking into Judge Molapo’s chambers and saying whatever they wanted me to say. Once we were inside, I greeted Judge Molapo. I told him I was there to take a statement. He asked me if I knew I was going to plead guilty, and I said I didn’t. He explained it to me. When he was done, I told him what the police wanted me to say and signed the statement. I was still scared from what the police had said to me while I was outside, so I didn’t even dare to look back to see if they were still in the room.”
Captain Molecule burst into tearsTelling his story. He toldHe fears for his life. HistoryOh, he hasNo choiceDo what the police are supposed to dohaveAlready ordered.
“My life was in danger because I was already weak from hunger and torture. I had to go to prison as they wanted, rather than die.”…Many people were dying at that timeIn pPrison…” he said, wiping the tears streaming down his face.
Judge Moxey asked if he needed some time to calm down, but Officer Moletsei said he could continue.
He said after the confession he was taken back to police headquarters and after lunch to the magistrates’ court where he was read the murder charge and taken into custody.
Captain Moletsi said when he arrived at the Maseru Central Correctional Facility, officers from the Lesotho Correctional Service were still filling out forms and three police officers wereChiefAsked to talk to him, he agreed.
“They asked me to be an accomplice witness in the matter and promised to release me the same day if I agreed. They also said that the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) command was aware of the issue and that a promotion in the army was waiting for me once I accepted their offer. But I told them that I could not be an accomplice witness as I knew nothing about the case.”
Captain Molates denied taking any investigators to the Mohale Dam where the three bodies were recovered.
The trial within the case was launched in May last year after a prosecution witness, Detective Lethoko, told the court that Brig Mphaki admitted that his accomplices had killed the three men and dumped their bodies in the Mohale Dam.
Detective Lethoko’s testimony was objected to by defence lawyers who said that such admission, confession and pointing outofThe dumping of the body was not a voluntary and free act, so it cannot be accepted by the court.
They asked the court to start a trial to determine whether the evidence was collected legally.
Captain Mollets was the first defence witness after the prosecution finished presenting evidence that the accused had voluntarily led police investigators to the location where the body was dumped.
The trial will continue today with other defence witnesses expected to testify
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