Phakoe’s suspected killer in court

KENEUOE NKUATSANA

MASERU – A suspect in the killing of a pastor who was also an official of the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL), Bohlale Phakoe, has been remanded in custody after he made his first appearance in court on Wednesday this week.

Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, in a brief telephone interview with Public Eye yesterday said the suspect, Reitumetse Lemphane, was remanded at the Magistrate court in Maseru.

“Mr Lemphane surrendered himself to the police and appeared in court on the 06/10/21,” explained Senior Superintendent Mopeli, adding the accused will appear again in court on October 20, this year, but would not give any further details.

The late Phakoe was shot on Saturday, October 2 at Marabeng (Matholeng Gardens) for undisclosed reasons. Phakoe, who was the Director of foreign markets at the CBL and a board member at Lesotho Revenue Authority was not only a businessman but was also a pastor at the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.

According to Katleho Kholokholo, the deceased’s nephew and the spokesperson of the family, “The accused (Reitumetse Lemphane) came by at the new business premises of the deceased, asking for Phakoe and they went out to talk in private.

“It was later on that evening when everyone started asking where he was, but no one could account for his whereabouts when, unfortunately, he was found in a pool of blood.”

He further explained that his uncle was taken to Queen ’Mamohato Memorial Hospital where he was officially declared dead. He leaves behind four children and a wife.

The family spokesperson also said the suspect was not a regular visitor at the house and that even though he had left the premises in a hurry on the day in question, the security guards at the house should have suspected something and not let him out.