From pillar to post

Lillane’s nine years of crying

‘MATHATO SEBOKA

MASERU – For nine years Rammako Lillane has been sent from pillar to post in his quest to have his vehicle released from the Roma Police station.

The police have consistently ignored the two court orders by Magistrate Lerato Ntelane instructing them to release Rammako Lillane’s car which has been in their care since 2016.

Lillane who took a loan to buy a second hand car from another man is still repaying the loan for the motor which is aging quietly at the police station.

The police impounded the vehicle when Lillane failed to fully pay for it and the owner

Complaining to Public Eye and seeking public support, Lillane indicated that he did everything in order to get his vehicle from Roma Police Station.

“I did everything in my power to get my vehicle from Roma Police Station but till date it is still in their possession. The police contempt of court orders indicates that they never wish to give me my car,” Lillane said.

The police have defied two consecutive court orders to date over the vehicle in question.

The first was issued by Magistrate Ntelane on July 27, 2016 ordering the Respondents or subordinates (police) restore “to the applicant omnia ante, the possession of the vehicle, a Nissan Sedan and the respondents are interdicted from interfering with the above mentioned vehicle excerpt by due process of the law”.

Then Police minister ’Mampho Mokhele wrote a letter to the Chairperson of Police Complaints Authority on May 03, 2018 indicating that the chairperson’s office is granted an authority to investigate and make recommendations on a complaint lodged by Lillane alleging poor service delivery by the Roma Police.

This also fell on death years, Lillane said.

Magistrate Ntelane again on November 1, 2024 ordered the respondents (police) to release the applicant’s motor vehicle within days from date of ruling.

They were further ordered to avail the vehicle keys seven working days from the date of the ruling to the applicant (Lillane) and for the applicant to facilitate the removal of his vehicle from the police compound.  

This too has never saw the light of day, visibly distraught Lillane narrated.

Lillane maintains the police had no right to have seized his vehicle in the first place.

“I aver that the vehicle is not suspected of any criminal activities and till to date none have been laid against me especially in this regard,” Lillane told the court in 2024.

He also put before corut that the early court order of 2016 had ordered the police “to restore the vehicle to him omnia ante the possession of the above mentioned description”.

“I sought assistance from the Commissioner of Police around 2017 who referred me to his subordinates DCP Senti (as he then was) for assistance. He also directed me to his subordinates. I was introduced to one DISPOL Ntlaba but he did not do much effort to see to it that I get my vehicle,” he narrated.

He further stated that he went back to the Commissioner of Police who made a few phone calls to her subordinates that they release the said vehicle but all was in vain.

“I then went to former Commissioner Mokhele who had then become Police Minister and like the personnel, I had visited before made a verbal request that my vehicle be release to me. She directed me to then Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli but he was of little assistance. All the people I met with, I showed them the court orders.”

“I went back to the Roma Police station again with the court order and the officer commanding the station informed me he would make arrangement that I get my vehicle.

“I went to inspect my vehicle and found it in horrible shape and apart from normal wear and tear; some of its parts were removed. It is painful because till date I am still paying for the loan I took to buy the vehicle but it is getting dilapidated simply because first respondent feels his office is above the law,” Lillane said.

Quizzed over Lillane’s plight, and the apparent disregard for court orders, police PRO Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said professed ignorance of the case.

“I am not aware of that court case but in any case where a police officer is not abiding by the court order, (the plaintiff) has to go back to court to lay a contempt of court charge on the police officer(s) who are not abiding by the court order,” Mopeli said.