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…just two weeks into his tenure, he faces a £1m lawsuit
Morosi Zian
Just two weeks into his tenure, new police commissioner Borotho Matsoso has been sued for persistent excesses by police officers in the fight against crime.
In the latest development, a Hubetsona man, Ramokatile Makhetha, claimed that on April 27, 2024, police and soldiers raided his home and confiscated his “licensed” firearms.
He filed a lawsuit in the High Court on Friday seeking Leone million in damages from the Commissioner of Police, Borotho Matsoso, and Army Chief Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela.
Defence lawyer Matsoso and Lieutenant General Matsoso were named as accused in the case along with Deputy Inspector Mapetja, Inspector Tšeole, Policewoman Nkoebele and Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa.
According to Mr. Mahta’s court documents, police and soldiers stormed his home uninvited and took his gun without saying a word.
He claimed that when he demanded to know the names of the police officers and soldiers who broke into his house, they manhandled him and asked to see his gun license. It is not clear how he identified Sub-Inspector Mapetja, Inspector Tseole and Policewoman Nkoebele.
“On or about April 27, 2024, police officers and soldiers illegally entered the plaintiff’s residence. The plaintiff heard someone knocking violently on the door and asked who was knocking, but received no response. The plaintiff unlocked the door and immediately entered, accompanied by a group of uninvited police officers and military officers, some of whom were carrying rifles,” Mr. Makhetha’s testimony reads.
“Then, a uniformed police officer proceeded further into the house and took the plaintiff’s gun, which was on a chair, without saying a word. The plaintiff then demanded to know who the police officers and soldiers were but was rebuked by a soldier, asking him why he was identifying them. He continued to say that they were soldiers and police officers and that the uniforms were sufficient. After failing to identify the police officers and soldiers, the plaintiff went to the bedroom to get a document they requested, which included a gun license. The police officers, including the first (Deputy Inspector Mapetja), the second (Inspector Tšeole) and the third defendant (WPC Nkoebele), savagely beat the plaintiff with their fists, hit him with the butt of their rifles and kicked him.”
He claimed that during the attack he lost consciousness and woke up with severe pain.
Mr Mahta said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the pain and suffering he experienced as a result of the disdain and contempt shown by the police and soldiers, who threw his clothes on the ground and confiscated his gun and cigarettes.
He said that since the police and soldiers performed their duties at all critical moments, Lieutenant Generals Masoso and Lesola were liable to pay him compensation of MNR 1 million. He also wanted the court to order the defendant to return his gun.
“The plaintiff is seeking damages of 700,000 Bangladeshi marks and 300,000 Bangladeshi marks as damages for defamation from the defendant,” said Mr Makhetha.
by the time Sunday Express Adv Matsoso and Lt-Gen Letsoela had not submitted their responses at the time of going to print.
Police have filed dozens of lawsuits over the years, some of which they have lost. Most of these lawsuits stem from the administration of former police chief Holomo Molibeli, when police were unable to properly investigate crimes and often assaulted suspects to extract confessions.
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