On this day, 5 November 2015, Justice Mphaphi Phumaphi’s final report regarding the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, was made public.
Phumaphi had fingered several senior Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) senior command, among them Lieutenant Colonel Tefo Hashatsi, in the operation that led to the killing of former LDF Commander, Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao.
During his testimony, the commission’s chairperson, Justice Mpaphi Phumaphi, directly questioned Hashatsi, putting it to him that he was at the scene and suggesting he was involved in shooting and dragging Mahao’s body.
Hashatsi, on legal advice, refused to answer the questions on the grounds that he might incriminate himself. The commission then declared that he would be regarded as a suspect.
Hashatsi subsequently launched a legal challenge to set aside the commission’s proceedings and prevent it from making findings in relation to him, arguing it was unlawful and operated in a prejudiced manner. He lost the case on the same day the report was published.
