Two suspects who are awaiting trial in prison for the murder of radio journalist, Ralikonelo Joki, last year have been charged with conspiring to kill their co-accused who has now turned crown witness. Moabi Sesioane, 34, and Sootho Liphoto, 36, appeared before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with conspiracy to murder Teboho Kumi.
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The trio is in custody at the Maseru Central Prison for the murder of Joki. Kumi has since agreed to turn crown witness, which has infuriated his two co-accused.
The court heard that there could be other suspects who are outside prison who could have had a hand in the conspiracy and the police are continuing with investigations.
The charge sheet says the duo since August last year “acted in concert and furtherance of a common purpose or join such agreement which if carried out in accordance with their intention would lead to the commission of murder of one Teboho Kumi”.
The crown says Kumi is a witness in their other murder cases CR0393/23 and CR0394/23, which are case numbers of Joki’s murder.
Joki, widely known as Leqhashasha, was a broadcast journalist with the privately owned Ts’enolo FM radio station in Maseru. He was gunned down after knocking off from his current affairs show called “Lehlokoana-la-Tsela” on May 14 last year.
He had hosted Minister Richard Ramoeletsi in the studio on the fateful night to discuss the government’s deal with Principal Secretaries who were challenging their dismissal.
The police said Joki was ambushed by gunmen as he was driving out of the radio station’s premises.
His brother, Motseki Joki, said a post-mortem report had revealed that he was hit by seven bullets with five of those tearing critical organs.
He said the most fatal had got stuck in the head.
Two other bullets entered from the left side and rampaged his insides while two others hit him on the right shoulder.
The court heard that there could be other suspects who are outside prison who could have had a hand in the conspiracy and the police are continuing with investigations.
The charge sheet says the duo since August last year “acted in concert and furtherance of a common purpose or join such agreement which if carried out in accordance with their intention would lead to the commission of murder of one Teboho Kumi”.
The crown says Kumi is a witness in their other murder cases CR0393/23 and CR0394/23, which are case numbers of Joki’s murder.
Joki, widely known as Leqhashasha, was a broadcast journalist with the privately owned Ts’enolo FM radio station in Maseru. He was gunned down after knocking off from his current affairs show called “Lehlokoana-la-Tsela” on May 14 last year.
He had hosted Minister Richard Ramoeletsi in the studio on the fateful night to discuss the government’s deal with Principal Secretaries who were challenging their dismissal.
The police said Joki was ambushed by gunmen as he was driving out of the radio station’s premises.
His brother, Motseki Joki, said a post-mortem report had revealed that he was hit by seven bullets with five of those tearing critical organs.
He said the most fatal had got stuck in the head.
Two other bullets entered from the left side and rampaged his insides while two others hit him on the right shoulder.
Staff Reporter
