Mohale FM One of the men accused in the 2016 murder of Police Constable Mokalekale Khetheng has told the High Court that he was brutally tortured by fellow police officers while in custody. Retired Inspector Mothibeli Mofolo made the allegations while testifying before Justice Charles Hungwe, claiming he was assaulted following his arrest in 2017.
Mofolo told the court he was arrested while on duty at Hlotse Police Station and taken to Mabote Police Station, where he was allegedly forced to undress, handcuffed, shackled and suffocated with a plastic bag filled with water until he lost consciousness.
He further alleged that after regaining consciousness, police officers continued the torture, including hanging him between two tables and pulling him by the testicles. In his testimony, Mofolo denied that PC Khetheng was ever arrested, saying he last saw him at Hlotse Police Station waiting to meet a senior officer.
He said PC Khetheng later disappeared from the station. Mofolo also rejected claims by another witness that he instructed officers to assemble a team to deal with PC Khetheng’s case, insisting he never made such a call. Mofolo is jointly charged with the murder of PC Khetheng and the alleged dumping of his body on the outskirts of Maseru.
PC Khetheng’s remains were exhumed from Lepereng Cemetery in 2017 after police initially claimed he had escaped from custody. The trial continues tomorrow, with Mofolo expected to remain on the witness stand.
