… claims he was fired for refusing to hide Liporolero Tabane’s murder.
…He denys the murder of PC Khetheng
Molahlehi Letsoepa, a former police commissioner, is facing murder charges of police officer (PC) Mokalekale Khetheng in 2016, claiming that Prime Minister Tom Tabane had banished him as police chief after he refused to investigate the murder of his ex-wife, former woman Lipolero Tebane.
Letsoepa claims he escaped in 2017 after Thabane stripped his bodyguard for fear of an assassination plot against him.
Mr Letsoepa, appointed as a police commissioner in 2015, will make these claims on his bail application for murdering PC Khetheng on February 26, 2025. He is currently in custody at Masel Central Correctional Facility.
According to Letsoepa, after Thabane took office in June 2017, he (Letsoepa) was summoned to Happy Villa, where he met the Prime Minister in the presence of Samonyan Ntsekele of the Water and then Secretary of Government Moahloli Mphaka.
At one point, Mr. Ntsekele was involved in the murder of Lipolelo Thabane. He filed a Constitutional Court case in April 2020, challenging the police’s intent to file charges. He lost the case, but he was never formally charged with Tavernes.
Tabane and his current wife, Liabilo (Messiah), were charged with murder of Lipolero in February 2020 and November 2021, respectively. However, the charges were withdrawn in August 2022 after the Director-General of Prosecutors (DPP) Halefang Motinyane notified the judge that the 39 key witnesses he was planning to testify were not found.
Letsoepa claims that upon arriving at Thabane’s residence, he was instructed to hear an audio message from Maesaiah Thabane’s phone. The record reportedly featured a police officer who said Tabane was about to be arrested for Lipolero’s murder.
“Hon. Tabane looked at your petitioner and said, “Look at me appropriately. I am not a murderer. My wife isn’t. I will quickly disband your biased team of investigators and reorganize it with professional staff who are not driven by a political agenda.”
He further argued that he refused to obey, warning that such a move would contradict the rule of law and would reflect much of Tabane as the newly sworn prime minister. He also defended Senior Inspector Mpheheletse Khatleli, a lead investigator, who described him as a very capable officer who solved famous cases, including the ritual murder of Lehlohonolo Scott.
“Your petitioner was said to be stubborn and ordered to leave the facility. He was then sent on an unwilling 60-day leave in the same month in June 2017. The next day, his guards were withdrawn without prior warning, damaging his safety and becoming vulnerable to attack,” claims Letsoepa.
Fearing his life, Lessopa says he fled to South Africa later that month after receiving a tip-off that he was assassinated.
He says that the investigative team led by SNR Insp Khatleli had disbanded shortly after departure.
Letsoepa said he has decided to return to Lesotho because of significant security improvements and the rule of law. Upon his return he met with the Minister of Justice, Judge Richard Ramoretes and Commissioner Boroto Matososo of the Lesotho Mount Police Service (LMPS).
He claims he is not involved in the murder of PC Khetheng and is ready to defend his innocence in court.
“Your petitioner protests his innocence and is ready to prove his innocence in court, claiming that he was not responsible for PC Keten’s death in any way.”
In presenting his “exceptional circumstances” to seek bail, Lessopa said he is a Lesotho citizen and a retired officer of the Lesotho Mount Police Service (LMPS), which holds the position of police chief. He added that he is married to two minor children and suffers from severe hypertension and diabetes, a condition requiring specialized treatment and strict diet.
Letsoepa asked the court to be released on bail under the terms of paying the M1000 bail deposit, attended his trial until conclusion, refraining from tampering with state witnesses, reported to the Maseru Central Police Office on Friday two weeks evening, and waived his passport to the Maseru Central Charge Office.
However, the prosecutor’s office submitted its intention to oppose Letsoepa’s bail bid. This issue will be assigned a hearing date where Letsoepa and the Crown lawyer present their arguments.
Meanwhile, Senior Chief Thabo Tšulu, former commander of the Hlotse Police Station, is currently on trial before the High Court for the murder of PC Khetheng. He is being charged with Principal Matiberi Mofolo, Inspector Mabitur Matna and Sub Inspector Haleoko Tathorne. The four officers have been in remand prison since their arrest in 2017.
According to Crown’s opening statement at the trial of four police officers charged with the murder of PC Khetheng, the latter was arrested on December 19, 2015 in connection with the burning of the house of a police commander in Mokhotlong. He was reportedly visited by Mr. Lessopa during his custody.
PC Khetheng was released on bail two weeks later. However, further arson attacks occurred in March 2016, including the burning of the Hlotse Pitso House, the Hlotse guesthouse, the Maputsoe residence, and the U Save Store in Butha-Buthe. He was once again suspected of involvement.
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A few days later, Lessopa visited the then-police station commander of Commander Tabo Tiklu, one of the accused in the Keten murder case. Later, on March 26, 2016, PC Khetheng was arrested for a feast at Sebotone in Leribe and taken to the Hlotse police station, where he allegedly disappeared.
His father, Thabo Khetheng, filed an application for habeas (body discovery) at the High Court. Letsoepa later told then-Polis Minister Monyane Moleleki that PC Khetheng had fled the Hlotse police station and was believed to be in South Africa or Botswana. He also directed that all inquiries relating to the loss disappear should be directed to him.
On March 27, 2016, an unidentified body was found in Hasetho, Mokarignean, Masel, and later buried in another unidentified body. The body was later excavated in Lepereng on August 4, 2017 and was identified as PC Khetheng.
By then, Lessopa was no longer the police chief, but was fleeing the country. He also retracted his opposition to habeas. He was subsequently accused of involvement in the murder.
After fleeing, Letsoepa will face another trial after being arrested last month.
