HomeNewsLocalScott’s brother in dramatic wrongful arrest  

Scott’s brother in dramatic wrongful arrest  

Published on

spot_img

 

ScottLekhetho Ntsukunyane

RETHABILE Scott, the brother of Koalabata double ritual murder suspect Lehlohonolo Scott, says he intends to sue Pitso Ground police after they allegedly assaulted and wrongfully arrested him on charges of armed robbery on Thursday.

Rethabile (36) claimed he was dramatically apprehended by the Pitso Ground police in Matsoatlareng on suspicion that he could have been involved in a M100 000 armed robbery incident which is still under investigation.

The police are said to have suspected that Rethabile’s blue Volkswagen (VW) Beetle was involved in the criminal act.

Rethabile was, however, cleared of the charges on Friday after the police discovered his Beetle’s particulars did not match those of the car they were looking for.

Yesterday, Rethabile showed this reporter black marks on his skin, claiming they were bruises he sustained when he was manhandled by the police.

“It was around 4pm when I had parked my car at a garage in Matsoatlareng near L.I.F.E High School. I then noticed a white car parked not so far from where I was and somebody inside arrogantly instructed me to come out of my car and go to him. I realised there were five men in that car,” Rethabile said.

He said he refused to go to them and demanded to know who they were and why they were calling him in that aggressive manner.

He said he then suspected they were police officers “because they were armed with AK47 rifles.”

“They rushed to me and one of them grabbed me to force me out of the car.

“As I resisted, one slapped me on the face demanding to know why I refused to come when the police called me. They used their guns to hit me here (on the shoulder),” he said.

Rethabile said he refused to be arrested by the police on grounds he did not “trust” them and continued to resist arrest until his lawyer, Advocate Thulo Hoeane, came to the scene.

He said he suspected the police were intimidating him ahead of his testimony against them in an on-going trial where his younger brother, Lehlohonolo (29), and their mother, ’Malehlohonolo (60), stand accused of the murder of fellow Koalabata residents Moholobela Seetsa (13) and Mohata (22) in January and June 2012 respectively.

The mutilation of the bodies led to speculation the two had been killed for ritual purposes.

For his part, Adv Hoeane yesterday told the Sunday Express he had received an “urgent” call informing him about Rethabile’s arrest on Thursday.

“I was told he was resisting arrest, telling the police that should be there to intervene as his lawyer. I rushed there and found him with the police.

He said they assaulted him before I arrived and he even showed me the bruises,” Adv Hoeane said.

Following his arrival, Advocate Hoeane said Rethabile agreed to cooperate.

“We went to Pitso Ground police station where a docket was opened against Rethabile on suspicion his car was involved in the alleged M100 000 armed robbery.”

Advocate Hoeane said Rethabile was however released after he undertook to bring him the next day together with all the particulars of his vehicle.

On Friday, Rethabile and Advocate Hoeane reported at the Pitso Ground police station where, after comparing documents of Rethabile’s car and those that the police had, it was found that his vehicle was not the one they were looking for.

“The police even checked the engine and chassis of Rethabile’s Beetle to convince themselves it was the wrong car and indeed it appeared it was the wrong car,” Advocate Hoeane said, adding he was now awaiting “full instructions” from Rethabile on how to proceed in suing the police “for assault and wrongful arrest.”

Rethabile confirmed he intended to instruct Advocate Hoeane to file a lawsuit against the Pitso Ground police.

Police spokesperson, Superintendent Clifford Molefe, yesterday expressed ignorance over the incident.

Latest articles

M100m boost for DMA 

  Hopolang Mokhopi  THE Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has ramped up its efforts to assist vulnerable...

Vodacom top employer for the 6th time 

  Staff Reporter  VODACOM Lesotho has once again secured its place as a Top Employer in...

LEC fails to address customer complaints timeously – LEWA 

  Mathatisi Sebusi  THE Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) has been accused of failing to address customer...

Witness narrates how soldiers killed his three friends 

  Moorosi Tsiane  FIVE soldiers, currently standing trial for murder, allegedly killed three Mafeteng civilians on...

More like this

M100m boost for DMA 

  Hopolang Mokhopi  THE Disaster Management Authority (DMA) has ramped up its efforts to assist vulnerable...

Vodacom top employer for the 6th time 

  Staff Reporter  VODACOM Lesotho has once again secured its place as a Top Employer in...

LEC fails to address customer complaints timeously – LEWA 

  Mathatisi Sebusi  THE Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) has been accused of failing to address customer...