…as High Court clears police to raid Rios Africa over alleged ‘fake’ Mazenod Printing Works books
Moorosi Tsiane
THE High Court has authorised the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) to search a Maseru bookshop and seize evidence in a copyright dispute involving the alleged unauthorised reproduction and sale of Roman Catholic Church books published by Mazenod Printing Works.
Justice Moroke Mokhesi granted the search and seizure order in the Commercial Division of the High Court on Thursday.
The order was obtained ex parte (without knowledge of respondent) after Mazenod Printing Works (Pty) Ltd and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate persuaded the court that there were reasonable grounds to fear that evidence relating to the alleged copyright infringement could be concealed, destroyed or removed.
The applicants want the police to search Lifestyle Books, a bookshop owned by Rios Africa proprietor Jared Kebaso Ongeri, and hand over any material seized during the operation for use in their case.
Mazenod Printing Works manager, Father Lekhooa Phillip Lekhooa, also asked the court to facilitate access to evidence already seized by the police under case number R.C.I 86/24/26.
He argues the evidence could help establish the extent of the alleged infringement and determine the damages suffered by the copyright holders.
In his affidavit filed at the Commercial Division of the High Court, Father Lekhooa says the dispute arose after he came across a Facebook advertisement on 21 April 2026, promoting books for sale by Lifestyle Books.
Among the books advertised were Malebela (ISBN 978-99911-49-73-8), Missale oa Bakreste Selemo A (ISBN 978-99911-49-92-9), Lifela tsa Bakreste Linoto (ISBN 978-99911-49-75-9) and Lifela tsa Bakreste Mantsoe (ISBN 978-99911-49-76-9).
Father Lekhooa says he subsequently visited Lifestyle Books and purchased copies of the books for M720, prompting him to scrutinise their authenticity.
He alleges that neither Rios Africa nor Lifestyle Books had been authorised or licensed to reproduce or sell the works.
According to Father Lekhooa, a comparison between the books purchased from Lifestyle Books and the original Mazenod editions revealed several significant differences.
“The printing quality of the books purchased from the respondents was poor, with blurred text and incorrect margins,” Father Lekhooa states in his court papers.
He further alleges that the binding differed from that of the genuine editions, explaining that the original books were section-sewn, while those sold by Lifestyle Books were bound using a single staple.
The alleged discrepancies, he claims, extended to the paper, watermark, barcodes, colours and lamination.
“The paper used was lighter and smaller than that of the original books,” he says.
He alleges that the suspected counterfeit copies also lacked the watermark found on the genuine editions and carried false barcodes.
According to the priest, the copies also had incorrect colours and matte rather than glossy lamination, while some pages allegedly contained photocopy shadows and duplicated material.
Father Lekhooa contends that the differences point to unauthorised reproduction rather than legitimate copies produced or distributed by the copyright holders.
“These differences clearly show that the books were not legitimately produced or distributed by the copyright holders,” he says.
He says records such as receipts, stock registers and financial documents were particularly important because they could help establish the number of allegedly infringing books sold and the financial loss suffered by the copyright holders.
“The applicants require access to receipts, stock records and financial documents in order to establish the extent of the infringement and calculate the damages suffered.”
The search order secured by the church is intended to give the LMPS access to the Lifestyle Books premises, as well as Mr Ongeri’s premises, to search for books, documents and other material that may constitute evidence of copyright infringement.
Having heard Advocate Mpho Semano for the applicants, Justice Moroke Mokhesi granted the order authorising the LMPS to search Lifestyle Books and Mr Ongeri’s premises and seize relevant material.
It is not yet clear whether the police have already executed the court order.