[ad_1]
—Insulting Kamoli’s lawyer
Morosi Zian
The ongoing trial of former Army Commander Tlali Kamoli and four other soldiers for attempted murder has descended into drama after state witness Maj. Gen. Ramanka Mokaloba insulted Kamoli’s lawyer.
This happened on Thursday after lawyer Letuka Molati suggested that former Alliance for Democracy (AD) leader Monyane Moleleki had provided asylum to Major General Mokaloba following his arrest?Allegedly?In 2012, he plotted to murder Teboho Mojapela, a prominent businessman and leader of the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SR), but failed.
Major General Mokaloba is the seventh witness in the trial of Kamoli and four others, who are accused of carrying out the bombings on January 27, 2014, of the residence of former first lady Messiah Thabane in Moshoeshoe II and the residence of then police chief Khothatso Tšooana in Ha’abia.
Maj. Gen. Mokaloba told the court in his affidavit filed between Tuesday and Wednesday that Kamoli ordered the shooting to intimidate then Prime Minister Tom Thabane, who was under police guard at the time after a falling out with Kamoli, into allowing the army to send soldiers as his bodyguards.
However, lawyer Moratti, who is representing Camoli, claimed that Maj. Gen. Mokaloba planned the attacks on the two houses without the knowledge of the army command.yesjust like him?“Organized”?The 2012 attempted murder of Mr Mojapela.
“In January 2012, you organised the killing of Teboho Mojapela. You were also the one who organised the shooting of the homes of Liabiloe and Tšooana without the knowledge of the Left SDF command. You sent a Left SDF officer, Khobotlo, to attack Mojapela and another soldier, Mosothoane, to attack the homes of Liabiloe and Tšooana. You were the first person to arrive at the scene after Mojapela was shot,”assistanceGen. Moratti, while Maj. Gen. Mato Barclay denied it?this? accusations.
Adv Molati further claimed that Mokaloba was arrested and detained after trying to kill Mr Mojapela but was released due to the influence of Mr Moleleki, who was then the Minister of Natural Resources in the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) government.
“You were arrested and detained for attempting to kill Mojapela, but you were released due to the influence of Moleleki. There was also political interference when you were arrested for attacking houses in Liabiloe and Tšooana, and you were not arrested,” said Adv Molati.
At this point, Major General Mokaloba flew into a rage and attacked the lawyer.
“I am not a member of any political party, even if you go to the Independent Election Commission (IEC), you will not find my name registered with any political party. I am an officer of the LDF and I am very disappointed if the standard of our lawyers is like this. You are now deviating from my evidence and attacking my character. When you come to me like this,?You miss me“(Sesotho term, taken as an insult). I am not involved in politics, I am not interested in politics, but you seem to be grandstanding and tarnishing my name and integrity. You should change your tactics.”
Morati’s defense lawyer then requested a brief adjournment and asked all lawyers to appear before the trial judge, Charles Hungwe, to control the situation.
“I will ask the judge to adjourn the case for now and then I will tell you why you had a falling out with the late Colonel Tefo Hashatsi,” Adv Molati submitted.
After a 10-minute recess, MP Morati told Maj Gen Mokaloba that he did not like the late Col Hashats because Col Hashats had rejected Mokaloba’s request to provide extra security for Mr Moleleki after the 2012 elections when Moleleki was the Leader of Opposition in Parliament.
“After the 2012 general elections, when Moleleki took over as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, you arranged two vehicles to provide him with extra military security. But Hashatesi disagreed with you, saying it was illegal. You hated him so much that you blocked his transport to hospital after Mozo Mozo was shot in the office of the late (former army commander Khoantle) Mozo Mozo, leaving him to bleed to death,” he said.
Adv Molati also claimed that Kamoli had discussed with Major General Mokaloba the bombing of Liabiloe and Mr Tšooana’s residence was a lie.
“Accused No. 1 (Kamoli) will tell the court that he never spoke to you about the shootings of Moshoeshoe II and Ha Abia. No one else will come forward to corroborate your evidence. Why didn’t you report the matter to the Director General of National Security, the Director General of Military Intelligence, the Intelligence Unit of the Littoral Combat Ship, the Commissioner of Police, the Police Intelligence Directorate or the Security Council?” asked lawyer Morati.
Major General Mokaloba replied that it was not safe for him because apart from being a member of the Security Committee, all of them were Camoli’s subordinates and therefore he feared for his life.
The case will continue on August 19, where Adv Molati will continue his cross-examination.
Kamoli, along with Pitso Ramoepane, Tekekanyo Nyakane, Mohlalefi Seitlheko and Malefane Heqoa, faces charges of attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
Article views: 199
[ad_2]
Source link
