Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lesotho Times
Published on 2024-03-13 11:14:31
Brigadier Rapele Mphaki, the former Military Intelligence (MI) boss, has made shocking allegations that he was tortured by the police to falsely implicate the leaders of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) in the 2017 murder of three civilians. This revelation came to light during a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of confessions made by Brigadier Mphaki and nine other soldiers who have been accused of strangling and dumping the bodies of three individuals into the Mohale Dam.
The trial within a trial was initiated after the defense raised objections to the admissibility of the confessions, arguing that they were obtained under duress and coercion. Crown witness Detective Inspector Tankiso Lethoko’s testimony about Brigadier Mphaki’s confession was challenged by the defense.
During his testimony, Brigadier Mphaki recounted the harrowing experience of being tortured and forced to confess to a crime he did not commit. He described how he was interrogated for hours, physically assaulted, and threatened by a team of police officers who demanded that he implicate the LCD leaders in the murders. Despite the torture and coercion, Brigadier Mphaki maintained his innocence and refused to falsely accuse the politicians.
The trial revealed the political tensions and power struggles that were prevalent in Lesotho at the time of the murders. Following the change in government after the 2017 general elections, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane was at odds with the LCD, which had previously been part of a coalition government. The fallout between the two political factions added a layer of complexity to the case and raised questions about the motives behind the alleged false confessions.
Brigadier Mphaki and his co-accused have been in remand prison since their arrest in September 2017. The trial is ongoing, with Brigadier Mphaki still on the witness stand and expected to be cross-examined by the prosecution. The case has put a spotlight on the issue of police brutality and the use of torture to extract confessions, highlighting the importance of upholding human rights and due process in criminal investigations.
As the trial continues to unfold, the truth behind the murders and the alleged involvement of the LCD leaders remains shrouded in controversy and political intrigue. The outcome of the trial will have far-reaching implications for the accused soldiers, the victims’ families, and the political landscape of Lesotho.
Read the original article on Lesotho Times
