Cops charged with kidnapping
By Nat Molomo
MASERU — Two police officers appeared before Magistrate ’Makampong Mokhoro facing charges of kidnapping a 14-year-old Lesotho High School boy two weeks ago. The two men, Tšepo Mohami of police’s Special Operations Unit and Bataung Thulo of police terminals, were not asked to plead when they appeared before court yesterday. They only nodded in agreement when the magistrate asked them if they understood their charges.
The prosecution says the police officers kidnapped Tšepang Bulane “and deprived him of his freedom for four days”. Bulane was kidnapped while walking to school early in the morning on Monday two weeks ago. He was found in Mokhotlong four days later. Police spokesperson Masupha Masupha said the boy was walking to school early in the morning when the men stopped their car and asked for directions to the passport office. He said the men told the boy that they last knew that the passport office was at the Red Cross Building along High Court Road and were not aware that it had moved to a new place.
The boy tried to give them directions to the new passport office but they pretended not to understand, he said. They then invited the boy to get into their car after promising him they would drop him at his school later. “After the boy got into the car the suspects drove towards the north instead of driving towards the west where the passport offices are located,” he said. Advocate Moeketsi Lekobane asked for bail for Mohami while Attorney Qhalehang Letsika applied on behalf of Thulo.
“During investigation of this matter he (Mohami) availed himself to the investigating officer and he is still a serving police officer within the LMPS,” Lekobane submitted. Letsika, defending Thulo, quoted section 12 (2) of the Constitution which states that the accused is presumed innocent till proven otherwise.
“On that basis we pray that accused two (Thulo) be admitted to bail in terms of section 106 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CP&E) of 1981,” Letsika said. “He is a Lesotho citizen and holds no passport of any other country other than the passport of the Kingdom of Lesotho,” he submitted. Prosecutor Gcinimuzi Tshabalala said they “view the committed crime in a very serious light particularly because it was committed by police officers”. “Our position is that we are going to oppose this bail application,” Tshabalala said.
“I have lined up five witnesses for prosecution to give evidence in opposition to bail application,” he said. Asked whether the crown witnesses were available the prosecutor said he got the case docket very late and the witnesses were therefore not before court and asked the court’s indulgence for postponement. The case was postponed to tomorrow morning when the court will consider bail application.
The Lesotho Times could not independently find if the crown witnesses included the Lesotho High School students and teachers who had come marching to the court waving placards protesting against bail for the two suspects. When the two men alighted from the police van, chained to each other’s legs, they received loud ridicules from the students who were already waiting for them in the courtyard.
Comment by Joooo on 28 February 2013:
As usual lesotho times empty story:investigative skills:o..any motive…ppl want to know why?or where he was found mokhotlong…..in a house?etc….
Comment by Sepakupaku on 28 February 2013:
Ke ile ka bolela hore “semphu se nka ka jareteng ea Ntate Masupha Masupha”
Comment by ZimDollar on 28 February 2013:
Mapolesa ke basali, haholo ana a marutle a ipitsang SOU. Ba batlang baneng ba likolo? Kidnaping! They r full of shit. Ba hlantsoa ke coumaflage empe ena. Nxa!
Comment by khathatso on 28 February 2013:
Silent news!!!!!why?
Comment by LEKHOARA on 28 February 2013:
Ke Lenkoane ore ts’episa hore roba libono ka koto, joale ke ba koetelang bana, hee mapolesa ana a tsoile taolong…ke bona eka mapolesa a hloka ho hlabolloa nako le nako otherwise ke bona mathata feela.
Comment by Pepper Spray on 28 February 2013:
This is like a half cooked story, too empty.
Comment by THLOMOHI on 28 February 2013:
@ZimDollar
mantsoe a hau! “Mapolesa ke basali” u bolela eng? ache che oa soabisa!
Basali ha ba koetele bana.
Comment by Limeme on 28 February 2013:
Masepa a mapolesa! yeerrr batho ba ntse ba ,mathisoa ho batloa ngoana athe mapolesa a tseba ‘na o kae? Ke bona hantle hore joale le bo Scott, Ntate Masupha ha ele masepa ana a mapolesa ona. *yessess ke khenne hoo, bana ba rona ha ba ea ts’ireletseha ho hang.
Comment by mokoti on 28 February 2013:
lesothotimes tlohelang ho batla litaba,hobane ha lekhone ho batla seo rona re se hlokang?khelek.ile eare ha le khetha ho bea ho bea hypothesis e tje ne le inahana joang?mxm
Comment by mpopo on 28 February 2013:
“E be why was the Boy kidnapped?” Ke potso e re salang
Re ipotsa eona. Che Lesotho times ache.
Comment by Mathaha Mokhatlo on 28 February 2013:
Ache lesotho lea hloleha, there’s no story here, u provided a quarter of the news. Kannete hona ke mmoko feela tjena, hess
Comment by Sthawa on 28 February 2013:
hana mapolesa a rupeloa likhoelinyana feela! Ha ho makatse, ba ntse ba ts’oana le mang kapa mang. Eleng phoso ho ea kanna
Comment by Pitsi on 28 February 2013:
Butleng pele. Ha tichere e ka beta ngoana oa sekolo e tla ba matichere kaofela a beta. Mapolesa aa a ts’oeroe ke mang athe ha ho thoe mapolesa a joang-joang. Akere re ka emela ho utloa motive pele joale re tsebe hore mapolesa a incompetent or otherwise. So if a police criminal does a criminal act how would other police officers know before he does that? Ache lea soabisa.
Comment by Boliba on 28 February 2013:
I regret why i read this!!! I should have used my valuable time somewhere else. LESAPO LE SE NANG NAMA!!! NTHO E SELE FEELA!!!
Comment by lerato on 28 February 2013:
@ bOLIBA, sPRAY PEPPER, etc
Just cut the crap you people. A newspaper cannot investigate why a person was kidnapped and why they were found in a house.
That is the role of the police. That information will be revealed in the court when the police and, perhaps, the boy give evidence.
You clearly dont know the limits of newspapers. If you want to know why the boy was asked go ask the accused.
Comment by Koankoara on 28 February 2013:
Athe motho ke eng banna! Nama ea ntja? Ts’epo ke mo tseba hantle ‘me kamehla ha ke nahane hore ke motho oa mesebetsi ena!
Comment by Dimammy on 28 February 2013:
Lepolesa,mothusi, motsoalle ea koetelang!!
Comment by Lipaputla on 28 February 2013:
o buoa nnete Lerato, if they want to know why the boy was kidnapped they should come to court ba tlo imamella bopaki.Empa kannete baqusoa ban ba soabisa,mosotho o re na eea kae baneng?
Comment by semenekane on 28 February 2013:
This article is not clear
Comment by Mokopakopa on 28 February 2013:
The M.O.T.I.V.E. behind the kidnapping. Bua Lesotho Times
Comment by Lekhoakhoa on 1 March 2013:
Now I know I will not send my child to Lesotho High School if they spend their time demonstrating at the courts instead of teaching! What do they think the courts are for? We do not know the full story. Anyway what is wrong with our police they are supposed to look after us, and yet this is what they do waist of our money.
Comment by Khoto Nkhorohele on 1 March 2013:
Nxa, ha bae tjele koana, ba lia seriti sa sepolesa, ke batla Shaba a hane ka bail
Comment by Setsokotsane on 1 March 2013:
Lerato le Lipaputla a ke le etseng mosebetsi oa lona oa ho re tlalehela litaba tse hlakileng. Le bua ka limits of newspapers tse hlahang kae? Ha le re ha le tsebe keng hoba ha le ne le tseba le ka be le re joetsitse hoba le tlaleha ntho tsohle? Boqolotsi ba lona mona ha bo a hlaka lumelang, ha le re re lo ba botsa lona le etseng?
Comment by semenekane on 1 March 2013:
Interesting part of the story is missing in this article. I strongly urge Mr. Molomo to make a thorough research before posting news article to avoid a situation whereby he may report about this disappointing article.
Comment by cats on 1 March 2013:
e eang lekhotleng le lo utloa naa bane ba tena ba koetela ngoana hobaneng,lesotho times ekeke ea bua taba tse e sa li fuoang,LESANG BANA BA TLE HO NNA HOBA MUSO OA MAHOLIMO KE OA BONA
Comment by COMPOL on 1 March 2013:
LMPS Vs miniors: kidnapping and sexual assaults
LMPS Vs the Elders: Torture and abusive language
LMPS Vs Taxi drivers: Bribery
LMPS Vs Robbers/thieves: mutual friendship.
LMPS needs reform, from the commissioner to the lowest rank, constable.
I therefore conclude you do not have a law enforcement agency in Lesotho.
Comment by COMPOL on 1 March 2013:
LMPS Vs miniors: kidnapping and sexual assaults
LMPS Vs the Elders: Torture and abusive language
LMPS Vs Taxi drivers: Bribery
LMPS Vs Robbers/thieves: mutual friendship.
LMPS needs reform, from the commissioner to the lowest rank, constable.
I therefore conclude you do not have a law enforcement agency in Lesotho.
not to mention they way they conduct their investigation, choking, strangulation, handcuffing, suffocating, you name them.
Comment by Koacha on 1 March 2013:
Khilik, aaaache haele Lepolesa le hloloang ke kuku tjena ha keso le bone. Ke hore motho a tele empire ea hae ea li tekesi a lelekise kutsoana feela? sis. O tlameha ho investigatoa hore na o bile le li 4+1 joang eena eno.
Comment by Qenqe on 1 March 2013:
Basotho, win. le tseba liaba.
Comment by moses bossel on 1 March 2013:
Hona ke meleko ea tuoan’a loli ruri!!
Comment by Nkhate-ke-hlaname on 1 March 2013:
Ba tlohetse lihaba ba ja mabolotsana.
Comment by Khothometsa on 1 March 2013:
Lesotho Tries or “Times” or whatever, away with your nonsensical and illogical reporting. Is this article a gossip doing rounds? Where are your reporters come from; Limkongkwin? Pls stop trying to do your work. Do it! Your credibility has declined miserably! Sis. Should the public also teach you not to disclose the name of a minor especially when he is a victim here? No wonder you hide your name (staff reporter), u failed to execute your duties here.
Comment by semenekane on 1 March 2013:
Ba tsebang re joetseng: ba fuoe bail bakoetili ba?. @ Khothometsa le ‘na ke makalletse lebitso lena la minor(victim) le ntseng le phanyaoloa feela. Chehe! Lesotho times, o hlolas
Comment by likhopo on 1 March 2013:
na re satla ts’epa mapolesa? ke nako ea bofelo ruri. Ebe mapolesa ao a na le basali le bana? Basotho lea timela le lahla boleng,hoja la rapela. jo u ts’abe bonyatsi. Hao ho ntse hona le batho ba etsang bonyatsi le mapolesa? Basali itlhokomeleng.
Comment by Noko on 2 March 2013:
Ke ipotsa hore na Les Times ba fumana litaba ka fono ho tlooa Zimbabwe na…ha ke so bone pampiri e senang boikarabello joalo ka ena…..
Mabaka a susumelitseng koetelo, Sebaka seo a koeteletoeng ho sona(ka tlung, ha mang,lehaheng kapa fochong),likamano tsa banna baa le moshanyana kapa ‘mae, ho botsa ba haufi le lelapa la moshanyana, kapa mapolesa a haufi aka hakanyang mabaka haeba se le hlotsoe ho fumana mabaka….kapa hona ho re bolella haeba lena le monyenyetsi lesa u tsoere mofao…ke eona feela ntho eo re e batlang ho pampiri eo mmuso oe khokhothelang chelete ea li papatso…
Comment by Vampire on 2 March 2013:
banna ba ba mapolesa ha bana bana nxa! ngoana eo o fumanoe a le boemong bofe? o na kula kapa che?lea makatsa lstho timees!!!
Comment by Letsatsi on 4 March 2013:
Sekolo sa sepolesa se hloka a serious review thuto ea teng e tetebetse hampe. Li products tsa teng li hlabisa sechaba lihlong.Kizoto come up with a better plan and better proposals to turn around the police service ASAP. Otherwise please tender your resignition to the PM.
Comment by china girl on 4 March 2013:
ke bona eka ba ne ba batla ho mokhabela le ena scott ha a mong tsuong ena o na le ba etsana ba hae
Comment by Tsotsi on 6 March 2013:
There are people who seem to have knowledge about the event. Please come out for the protection of the children
Comment by Setsokotsane on 7 March 2013:
Cats u leka ho re bohle ba batlang ho tseba litaba tsee ba ee Maseru lekhotleng ba ilo imamella? Nahana na re ka senya chelete joang ho tlong literekeng tse 9 rea Maseru re ela ho lo imamella fela koranta e le eno! U se u le hlola mosebetsi oo oa lona? Ska re phoqa hle, re batla litaba tse utloahalang eseng lihalofo tsena