Maseru — The corridors of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were abuzz late Friday afternoon as Acting DPP Mofilikoane signed two high-profile prosecution directives that could shake Lesotho’s police leadership. Lesotho Tribune can confirm that both directives relate to senior police officials, Commissioner of Police Borotho Matsoso and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Paseka Mokete, in separate criminal cases scheduled to be heard early next week.
According to sources inside the DPP’s office, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) has filed a case against Commissioner Matsoso for embezzlement of police informers’ funds, estimated to be between M60,000 and M100,000. The funds were allegedly misused and diverted from operations meant to support intelligence gathering.
When contacted for comment, Commissioner Matsoso responded briefly, saying, “Not at all Madame, and if there is a case I will face it as it comes.”
In the second matter, the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) itself has launched proceedings against Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Paseka Mokete, who is accused of trafficking in illicit drugs. The case is also set to appear in court next week, marking an extraordinary moment in Lesotho’s policing history as both the head of the police and his deputy face serious criminal allegations at the same time.
Speaking to Lesotho Tribune, DCP Mokete strongly denied the allegations, calling them part of a sustained campaign to discredit him. “If there is a case for me, I will defend myself fiercely before the court of law. I know that there are perpetual efforts to get me indicted on anything,” he said.
Police sources which spoke to Lesotho Tribune on condition of anonymity alleged that Mokete’s privacy and communications have been violated in an orchestrated attempt to frame him. “Recently, his WhatsApp was hacked in an effort to find out whom he was communicating with. There are two well-known police officers who have been given tasks to do everything to nail him down. Some police officers have been suspended simply because they refused to incriminate him in this orchestrated effort to get him criminally charged.”
Both cases have sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community, with insiders describing the developments as unprecedented and a test of institutional integrity.
If these prosecutions proceed as expected, they will mark the first time in recent memory that two of Lesotho’s highest-ranking police officials face criminal charges simultaneously, one for corruption and the other for drug trafficking.
Shockingly sources within the LMPS alleged that there is corruption case against Minister of Police, Hon. Lebona Lephema, related to procurement of police vehicles and issuance of citizenship visas.
Asked to comment, Minister of Police, Lebona Lephema’s mobile phone went unanswered.
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