Chief found dead in his house

MASERU — A taxi owner who was also the village chief of Thuathe Ha-Thebe, was found dead in his bedroom on Tuesday night.

Chief Mokholoko Masupha’s body was found with suspected gunshot wounds.

Family members could not tell whether Masupha was alone or was with his wife when he died to avoid jeopardising police investigations.

However, the chief’s brother, Mokonyana Masupha, told the Lesotho Times yesterday that there was no sign of a break-in or forced entry both at the main door and bedroom door.

“It seems whoever killed the chief did not have any difficulty entering the house,” Mokonyana said.

“We have reasonable suspicion that he entered through the door as there is no indication that a window was broken,” he said.

“We, as the Masupha family, have reasons to believe that the murderer was familiar with the house, its plan and arrangement of things inside.”

Mokonyana said some family members were called to the police station to make statements while a security guard was held for questioning.

When the Lesotho Times crew visited the family on Wednesday fellow taxi operators, villagers and relatives were already at the house consoling the family.

Police spokesperson Masupha Masupha said there are no suspects at present but the security guard was held for questioning.

Investigations are continuing.

Meanwhile, a man escaped death by a whisker after his relative shot him in Mafeteng on New Year’s Eve.

According to the Lesotho News Agency, the Mafeteng police are currently investigating a case in which a 25-year-old man from Qhoobeng was assaulted on New Year’s Eve.

The police report that two men met on the way from their respective homes and they quarrelled over stolen horses.

Senior Superintendent Mpota Nthako said it is alleged that the suspect shot the victim after he accused of stealing his horses about two years ago.

He said the suspect shot the victim and fled from the crime scene hoping that the victim was dead, but was rescued by people who were passing by.

Nthako said the victim was admitted at Mafeteng government hospital with serious gunshot wounds where he is receiving medical treatment.

The suspect is still at large.

In another case, a 48-year-old man from Port Elizabeth in South Africa was yesterday remanded in custody for allegedly obstructing the course of justice by resisting arrest and attempting to stab a police officer with a knife.

According to the charge sheet, the suspect Johannes Nkofu failed to produce receipts with Value Added Tax (VAT) registration numbers for goods he imported into the Kingdom.

Nkofu refused to cooperate when officers from the Lesotho Revenue Authority asked him to pay VAT at Tele border post on December 20.

He also refused to leave the goods at the border.

Nkofu further refused to talk to the police and tried to leave the border post by force.

When the police tried to arrest him, he resisted, took out a knife and tried to stab them.

The same court also remanded Lejone Rasekoai, 32, from Qalakheng in Mohale´s Hoek for allegedly impersonating police at Lower Moyeni on December 26.

Rasekoai allegedly arrived at his friend’s residence claiming to be a police officer from the Criminal Investigation Division.

A police officer who was present when Rasekoai introduced himself allegedly asked him to produce his police number and he gave him his cellular phone number and was arrested.

The two cases are before Magistrate Bokang Makhaketso.