
’Marafaele Mohloboli
THE High Court has given the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) until 13 February 2017 to “show cause” why they should not be ordered to stop arresting and harassing Alliance of Democrats (AD) Youth League President Thuso Litjobo.
This was after Mr Litjobo on Friday lodged an urgent application before the court through his lawyer, Advocate King’s Counsel (KC) Salemane Phafane, following his arrest on 15 January 2017 for a charge of defaming Maseru Urban Assistant Commissioner of Police Motlatsi Mapola.
However, on 18 January the Magistrate Court threw out the case, ruling that the alleged offence did not constitute a criminal offence.
Mr Litjobo cited Police Commissioner Molahlehi Letsoepa, Lesotho Defence Force Commander Lieutenant-General Khoantle Motšomotšo and Attorney-General KC Tšokolo Makhethe as first to third respondents respectively in the application.
In his ruling, Justice Thamsanqa Nomngcongo gave the respondents until 13 February 2017 at 9.30 am to “show cause” why they and all other officers subordinate to them should not be “restrained and interdicted from harassing the applicant in any manner whatsoever pending finalization hereof”.
The respondents are also requested to “show cause” why they should not be ordered to desist from arresting and interfering with Mr Litjobo’s movement as well as that of his family pending the finalization of the matter.