‘Mantoetse Maama
MASERU — A Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) junior soldier is facing murder charges for allegedly killing a senior colleague in Maseru last week. Private Sehloho Lengoasa, aged 34, on Monday appeared before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on a murder charge. He was remanded in custody.
Thabo Nketsi was killed after confronting Lengoasa for not reporting at work. LDF said the shooting incident took place at Ha Hoohlo. “A member of the LDF Military Police was shot and injured by another soldier of a rank of private who had been absent without leave (AWOL) since the 24 August 2013,” read the statement. “The Warrant Officer was rushed to hospital for medical attention. He was declared dead on arrival. The suspect turned himself in at the police,” the release further stated.
LDF public affairs officer, Major Ntlele Ntoi, said the suspect had used a firearm that does not belong to the LDF.
“The gun that the suspect used does not belong to the LDF and I am not sure whether it’s his personal firearm or not because if it’s a personal gun he will have to produce the license of the gun,” Ntoi said. “According to LDF Act of 1996 section 55 being absent without leave is illegal. It’s therefore an offence for a member of the LDF to absent himself from work without leave,” he said.
He said the suspect was ordered to go back to work by the deceased but then he refused to follow his order.
“The suspect had refused when he was ordered to go back to work. The now deceased had told him that there was a letter written to Provost Marshal informing him about his (the suspect’s) absence. “The office of Battalion Commander needed assistance from the office of Provost Marshal as they could not find the suspect. The letter was written on 10 September,” he said.
Ntoi said it’s also an offence that the suspect had assaulted the now deceased. The relatives of the deceased declined to comment on the matter when Sunday Express visited the family on Tuesday.
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