There is no case to answer – Mokete
382 total views, 2 views today
By Itumeleng Koleile
Deputy Commissioner of Police Paseka Mokete’s lawyer on Monday this week told the court that sexual harassment charges facing his client were “just a way to drag his name in the mud”.
Advocate Monaheng Rasekoai, DCP Mokete’s lawyer said the case against his client is frivolous as there is nothing from the evidence that implicates his client.
He said the frivolous lawsuit was influenced from a conflict that has embroiled Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) and the Lesotho Police Staff Association (LEPOSA).
“The two are at odds with each other and that instituted this case,” Rasekoai said.
Moreover, Rasekoai said they are not just trying their luck for having filed an application for discharge.
He said the continuation of the trial he deemed frivolous would just abuse expenses of the state.
He said the complainant, inspector ‘Makatleho Mphetho who is also LEPOSA’s deputy Secretary General has the prosecution to represent her while the accused has to fend for himself.
Rasekoai told the court that he is not just making a technical reasoning as the evidence against his client is frivolous.
He said Mphetho only wants to embarrass Mokete, “paint him as a vindictive, evil and sexual predator and that would stop at nothing to get his way”.
Rasekoai said there is no way his client could have left his office, go to the National Assembly of Lesotho premises “just to touch Mphetho’s buttocks”.
He said Mokete was merely going to issue a letter of termination of membership of LEPOSA, which Mphetho refused to acknowledge receipt of, which resulted in an altercation.
“It is very unfortunate that the law is not forthcoming to protect men from women who are vindictive and cunning for self-serving reasons,” he said.
He said Mphetho denied a recording of a voice peculiarly similar to hers, saying “I am going to embarrass him in the media, so that the public knows the kind of person he is”.
However, Prosecutor Rafoneke said he was not in agreement with having the case discarded.
He said in line with the evidence, Mokete does not deny that there was malicious damage to property (Mphetho’s pair of trousers).
He said Mokete however contends that a pair of trousers was damaged by Mphetho herself.
“Expectation would be that he proves what he is saying. The two parties are in argument that a pair of trousers has been damaged, clearly a charge has been proved,” Rafoneke said.
He said Mokete argues that he did not go to parliament to touch Mphetho’s buttocks, “and nobody said he did but the issue is he committed an offence”.
He added that the accused is a law enforcement officer and that “he should know better”.
“He cannot come to court and say he did not go to parliament just to touch Mphetho’s buttocks, he committed this with a clear mind,” he said.
He told the court that according to the evidence they presented in court, there is a case to answer.
Magistrate Peter Murenzi will give a ruling on the application on the 22nd April.
