Police boss has failed

DCP Paseka Mokete was charged with assaulting a junior police officer Inspector Mphetho on April 30, 2020. Countless police officers have been interdicted by the Police Commissioner pending the resolution of the disciplinary or criminal proceedings against them. But unfortunately Commissioner Holomo Molibeli is not convinced that DCP Mokete should be interdicted. I searched for more information regarding those who have been interdicted, the list is shocking. For the purpose of this article I wish to mention a few police officers: DCP Ntaote, DCP Moseme, ACP Thakane Theko, ACP Soko, SACP Senti, ACP Mphatsoane PC Lents’a, L/Sgt Mpoli, PC Mohajana, PC Nyamene, PC Thatho, PC Manoesa, PC Pitiri, PC Musi, PC Sekoala, PC Letsie, PC Hatasi, PC Secker, PC Moru, PC Pheko, L/Sgt Thibinyane, Sgt Sebehe, PC Takalimane, PC Matsoso….the list is endless. It has been done in the past and precedence has been set. The discretion to interdict a police officer facing criminal charges lies with the Police Commissioner. As (53. 1) of the Police Act states that “any member of the Police Service may be interdicted at any time by the Commissioner pending the resolution of any disciplinary or criminal proceedings against him, but he shall not by reason of such interdiction cease to be a member of the Police Service; Provided that during that the period of his interdiction he shall not be entitled to any pay or allowances but the Commissioner may, at his discretion, order payment of the whole or part of his pay and allowance.” The precedence that has been set by the police service is also that officers facing any charges have been interdicted, as per Police Act (53.1). Moreover an officer’s interdiction states that they are relieved of their duties, until they are absolved of all charges. Moreover the Police Act (53. 2) states that when a police officer is cleared of his charges they can be reimbursed of their back-pay and reinstated to their position, “if the disciplinary proceedings are resolved in his favour the member of the Police Service shall be entitled to reimbursement of the whole of his pay and allowance for the period of his interdiction less any sums already paid.” As a result of the aforementioned regulations more than forty police officers across the country have been interdicted due to criminal charges ranging from murder, to corruption, to car theft and even assault. Furthermore the Police Commissioner cannot claim ignorance of Mokete’s case, or even suggest the case merely slipped through the cracks, as it has been highly publicised. Just a few weeks ago, the case caused quite a frenzy, after the actions of DCP Mokete and the police were condemned by Lesotho Police Staff Association (LEPOSA) Treasurer ‘ Mathebe Motseki. In an audio that did the rounds, which was taken at the funeral of a relative and fellow police officer Thabang Molelekoa in Mafeteng, Motseki condemned women abuse within the police force, citing DCP Mokete’s case, and another concerning the wife of the deceased. It will interest you to know that LEPOSA treasurer Mathebe Motseki has been dismissed from duty by Commissioner Holomo. Motseki is a witness in Inspector Mphetho’s assault case against DCP Mokete. Is it not reasonable to conclude that the fact that DCP Mokete remains in office, Inspector Mphetho will not get justice. According to me DCP Mokete who is serving in a very senior position is interfering with Inspector Mphetho. Why does he remain in office with powers and privileges of the office? There is indeed wisdom in interdicting and suspending officers. It was for such purposes that the Police Act section (53.3) clearly states that such an officer should be stripped of his or her powers “during any period of interdiction a police officer shall cease to have the powers, privileges and benefits of his office but he shall be subject to the same duties, discipline and authority as if he had not been interdicted.” However despite all the public attention shone on the case, DCP Mokete remains comfortably in his position, which beckons the question: what is it that sets him apart from other police officers accused of crimes, who face interdiction by the police force? The country watched in dismay as the Police Commissioner was dismissed from work, and many believe that he was victimised because of his bid to get to the bottom of the murder of the estranged wife of the former Prime Tom Thabane, Lipolelo Thabane. Thabane’s other wife, the former First Lady ’Maesisah Thabane is the prime suspect. However, to my surprise Molibeli seems to have adopted the tactics of his aggressors, as those that do not agree with him within the police force are being victimised, as a result. It is clear that Commissioner Holomo Molibeli is failing in his duties as Commissioner of Police. Precedence was set – DCP Mokete must be interdicted. The Prime Minister should also dismiss the Police Commissioner for bringing the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) into disrepute. He is destroying this noble profession. Ramahooana matlosa