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— Revealed in court that former army superiors ordered the bombing
Morosi Zian
televisionOP soldiers, Major General Ramanka Mokaloba and retired Major General Poqa Motoa have put former Army General Tlali Kamoli in danger.
They told the High Court that Kamoli had directly orderedOn January 27, 2014, explosions occurred simultaneously at the Moshoeshoe II residence of former first lady Maesaiah Thabane and the Ha-Abia residence of then police chief Khothatso Tšooana.
Major General MokalobaHold out in courtYesterday, Camoli ordered the raids on the two houses.
Maj. Gen. Motoa testified in the same court that KamolihaveRefusing to hand over to the police soldiers suspected of criminal activity.
the two of themAdvancedarmyChiefsubpoenaed as a state witness in an ongoing trial,existNot to mention,AlongsideFour other soldiersfacingAttempted murder and property damageAllegations of the bombing.Not to mentionreturnfaceoneAdditional obstruction of justice charge.
Kamoli was charged along with Pitso Ramoepane, Tekekanyo Nyakane, Mohlalefi Seitlheko and Malefane Heqoa.
SecondAmber
riceThe seventh prosecution witness in the trial, General Mokaloba, revealed that Kamoli ordered the attack. Mokaloba said Kamoli summoned him to his office at the Lachomosi military camp in January 2014, where heheOutlining his plans to carry out shootings near the residence of Messia (née Liabiloe Ramoholi) in Moshoeshoe II and the residence of Commissioner Tšooana in Ha’abia. Messia was then the girlfriend of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.
Maj. Gen. Mokaloba said Kamoli deliberately made the operation look like an internal police fight because of a dispute between then-deputy police commissioner Kexo Monaghan and police commissioner Joana. Kamoli’s ultimate goal was to destabilize the police and consolidate Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s control by making the military the main security force.Security forces.
“He said there appeared to be a plan to promote Superintendent Monaghan to the position of Commissioner of Police and that this issue had caused a dispute, making the operation look like an internal police brawl,” Maj-Gen Mokaloba said.
“But I started asking questions, like why the other houses near Liabiloe’s home weren’t built in a linear structure. I also let him know that there was a military base nearby, Mejametalana, where soldiers were ready to respond to any situation. I told him that this could lead to soldiers fighting each other. In addition, there were police guarding Liabiloe and Commissioner Tšooana’s homes, who would surely respond to a shooting. I told him about the collateral damage and level of risk that such an action could cause.
“His response indicated he was a little disappointed but he said he would see how it could be resolved. He said if the move was successful, he would influence then Prime Minister Tom Thabane to remove thethisHe (Camoli) said that Tabane By supporting the police, while isolating the military, he could have succeeded in breaking that stranglehold.
“He said once the soldiers provided security for Thabane, he had control and knew who Thabane would meet. He said the police Special Operations Unit (SOU) appeared to be arming itself with weapons seized from the courts and from soldiers during the 1994 and 1998 riots. He said he hoped to one day see them (SOU) walking down the street in white shirts, carrying riot batons and wearing blue pants with the word “Police” printed on the buttocks.
A few days later, on January 26, 2014, Mokaloba received a call from Kamoli instructing him to meet with Major Mochesane for an operation. Mokaloba refused to attend as he felt he was being tricked. The next morning, he learned about the shootings at Moshoeshoe II and Haabia villages and reported it to Kamoli, who simply thanked him for reporting it to him.
He said he hadIt was suggested to conduct a joint investigation with the police. However, the police already suspected the military was involved, leading to tensions between the two armies.
“This was later proven when the Commissioner (Tšooana) wrote to the commander requesting that certain soldiers be handed over to the police for questioning to assist in the investigation, but these soldiers were not released.”
Maj. Gen. Mokaloba said his name was on the list but he hoped Kamoli’s name would also be on the list.
“I am for thoseandThere are people on the list. I had hoped that Lieutenant General Camogli’s name would be on the list so that he could lead by example as a general of the army.”
obstruction
ohOn Monday, the fifth prosecution witness, Major General Motoya, testified that Kamoli was obstructing justice and creating a climate of terror in the army. Motoya recalled that on the morning of the explosion, he received a call from the late Lieutenant General Khoantle Motšomotšo (then deputy commander) instructing him to go to Commissioner Tšooana’s house. Upon arrival, they discovered the explosion and Kamoli’s bodyguards speculated that high explosives were used. Kamoli later reprimanded the bodyguards for leaking information to the police.
May RootMotoa testified that Camoli refused to hand over soldiers suspected of criminal activity to police and insisted on a joint investigation, which never materialized.May RootMotoya was surprised by Camogli’s refusal and stressed how hypocritical Camogli’s position was, as he himself had abused soldiers.May RootMotoa himself has been subjected to this type of torture, describing a harrowing experience in 2015 whenexistWhile in custody, he was drowned, suffocated and subjected to extreme cold.
“I asked him where the house was but he said I should check to make sure the Commander (Camoli) could find me when he arrived. Later, Second Lieutenant Mohasi showed me the way. Unfortunately, when I arrived, General Kamoli was already there.
“We found out the house had been bombed, and while we were still in shock, one of General Camoli’s bodyguards, Captain Rakozzi, speculated that the bomb was a high explosive. The police continued to assess the situation. While they were still assessing, General Camoli came back and angrily questioned Captain Rakozzi for explaining the bomb to the police, telling him to learn to keep silent,” said Major General Motoa.
Maj. Gen. Motoa said they learned that two other houses had been bombed the same morning and went to investigate.
“A few days after the incident, Kamoli convened a meeting of senior officers and read out a letter from Mr Tšooana containing a list of soldiers wanted by police in connection with high-profile criminal cases. However, Kamoli refused to release them.”
Maj. Gen. Motoa said he was surprised that Kamoli refused to hand over the soldiers on the pretext of protecting them from police violence while he himself tortured them.
“I have been tortured and I know it is not a pleasant experience. It is surprising that Camoli claimed to be protecting the soldiers while he himself was torturing them. He was so aggressive that everyone would be silent when he passed by. If he was concerned about the torture of soldiers, he should have raised it with the Commissioner and not the senior officers because it would not help him or the soldiers,” said Major General Motoya.
Maj-Gen Motoa was one of the suspected mutinists arrested by the army in 2015. Two years ago, while testifying in a separate case, he explained to the court that he drowned in a dam at the Setibin military base and was suffocated by a tube.sprayUse cold water,These includething,periodhisWinter detention.
On August 29, 2014, Mr. Thabane sacked Kamoli, but the latter retaliated by launching a coup, causing Mr. Thabane to flee to South Africa and plunging the country into chaos.
The trial will continue today with cross-examination by Maj-Mokaloba.
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