…as four accused police officers are set to know their fate next month
Moorosi Tsiane
AFTER nearly a decade of twists, delays and explosive testimony, the long-awaited judgment in the murder trial of Police Constable (PC) Mokalekale Khetheng is finally in sight, with four accused police officers set to learn their fate on 4 August 2026.
Trial Judge Charles Hungwe announced on Friday that he will deliver judgment on 4 August after both the Crown and the defence concluded their oral submissions, effectively bringing the marathon trial to an end.
The judgement will determine whether the four officers are guilty of PC Khetheng’s abduction and murder among others.
The four; Former Hlotse Police Station commander Senior Superintendent (SSP) Thabo Tšukulu, Senior Inspector Mothibeli Mofolo, Inspector Mabitle Matona, and Sub-Inspector Haleokoe Taasoane are facing five charges, including the March 2016 murder of PC Khetheng.
PC Khetheng was reportedly arrested on arson charges but was never seen alive again. Police initially claimed that he had escaped from custody. However, his remains were exhumed from Lepereng Cemetery in Maseru in August 2017, after a national outrage and renewed scrutiny of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).
Closing the Crown’s case, Advocate (Adv) Nthabeleng Nkoe argued that the four accused acted in concert to abduct and kill PC Khetheng before attempting to conceal the crime.
“My Lord, the accused stand before this court charged with five counts, including the murder of PC Khetheng. PC Khetheng’s death was not an accident. The evidence that the Crown has presented before this court shows that it was a premeditated murder,” Adv Nkoe submitted.
She argued that the Crown had proved all the legal requirements to establish that the accused acted with a common purpose.
“We also submit that, with the evidence led before this court, the Crown has met all the requirements to prove that the accused acted in common purpose,” she said.
Adv Nkoe further submitted that the accused tried to conceal the killing by misleading Khetheng’s family about his whereabouts and later lied during habeas corpus proceedings.
She also argued that the accused later led investigators to the location where they had dumped the body.
“The accused pointed out the place of the incident and that was exactly where the corpse of PC Khetheng was found. Tšukulu was furthering the plans of the then Commissioner of Police, Molahlehi Letsoepa, and he recruited Mofolo and Matona, who in turn recruited Taasoane,” she told the court.
Adv Nkoe said the Crown had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and urged the court to convict all four accused on every charge.
“My Lord, the Crown has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and we pray that the court finds the accused guilty on all the charges they are facing,” she concluded.
Representing the accused, Adv Karabo Mohau KC dismissed the prosecution’s case, arguing that investigators fabricated evidence and improperly influenced witnesses.
“My Lord, there is an issue concerning the conduct of the investigators in this matter, where witnesses were encouraged to fabricate evidence,” Adv Mohau argued.
He further submitted that the Crown’s witnesses contradicted one another on crucial aspects of the case, particularly on whether PC Khetheng had ever been arrested.
“PC Khetheng was never a subject of investigation relating to acts of criminality, and Crown witnesses contradicted each other on material aspects of the case,” he argued.
Adv Mohau maintained that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and urged the court to acquit all four accused.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Hungwe reserved judgment for 4 August 2026.
The Khetheng murder case has implicated several high-profile figures over the years.
Former Defence Minister and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) deputy leader, Tšeliso Mokhosi, who now serves as the Minister of Labour, was initially charged alongside the four police officers. However, the charges against him were withdrawn in July 2020 and he was subsequently turned into a state witness.
Mr Mokhosi served in the defence portfolio during the Pakalitha Mosisili-led coalition government between 2015 and 2017.
Former Police Commissioner, Molahlehi Letsoepa, was also initially listed among the accused. However, he fled the country in 2017, claiming that the administration of former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane wanted to assassinate him. Although he was later removed from the original charge sheet, Letsoepa was charged separately in February last year after returning from self-imposed exile.
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