Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lesotho Times
Published on 2024-03-21 12:19:43
Former Principal Secretary Colonel Tanki Mothae (Retired) is at the center of a controversial situation where a warrant for his arrest for contempt has been issued. The warrant was issued by Justice ‘Maliepollo Makhetha after Col Mothae failed to appear in court as a Crown witness in a high-profile treason and murder case involving prominent politicians and former soldiers. This decision has angered Col Mothae, who claims that he was not properly informed about the court proceedings by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office.
Col Mothae, who has served in the Lesotho Defence Force and later joined the Southern African Development Community (SADC), expressed his frustration at the situation. He stated that he was only made aware of the court appearance on short notice and was not properly informed by the DPP’s office. Col Mothae emphasized that he had voluntarily agreed to be a witness and was not forced to do so. He believes that the DPP’s office should take responsibility for alerting witnesses about their scheduled court appearances, which did not happen in his case.
In response to the warrant for his arrest, Col Mothae demanded that the DPP’s office tell the truth and have the warrant cancelled. He threatened to withdraw from the case completely if his demands were not met, indicating that he felt unfairly targeted by the legal proceedings. Col Mothae emphasized that volunteering to be a witness should not result in being treated as a criminal, and he raised concerns about his reputation and integrity being tarnished.
Amidst the controversy, Col Mothae reached out to the DPP, expressing his concerns and requesting that the statement or court order be rescinded. He made it clear that he was willing to withdraw his participation in the proceedings if the situation was not resolved to his satisfaction. The outcome of this request will determine whether Col Mothae will continue to cooperate as a witness in the case.
Col Mothae’s career spans from his time in the military to his role as a principal secretary in various government ministries in Lesotho. His extensive experience and background in defense and security matters make him a valuable witness in the case at hand. However, the dispute over his court appearance and the warrant for his arrest have raised questions about the handling of the case by the DPP’s office.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the DPP will respond to Col Mothae’s demands and whether he will remain involved in the legal proceedings. The controversy surrounding his arrest warrant highlights the challenges and complexities of high-profile cases involving political figures and former military personnel in Lesotho.
Read the original article on Lesotho Times
