THE police have arrested a third suspect in the conspiracy to kill a key witness in the murder of radio presenter Ralikonelo Joki. Moeketsi Rantheba, 25, briefly appeared before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court last week charged with conspiracy to kill Teboho Kumi, an accomplice witness. Rantheba appeared before Magistrate Lebusa Tšosane.
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Advocate Keketso Motiki is prosecuting. The police said investigations were continuing.
Rantheba joins Moabi Sesioana, 34, and Sootho Liphoto, 36, both from Mokema, who appeared in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on July 23 facing the same charge of conspiracy to kill Kumi.
Sesioana and Liphoto are already on trial for Joki’s murder.
They were initially charged together with Kumi but he was later released after he turned state witness.
It was after he flipped while awaiting trial at the Maseru Central Prison that Sesioana and Liphoto allegedly hatched the plot to get him killed.
The charge sheet says they “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”.
Joki, widely known as Leqhashasha, was gunned down after finishing his current affairs show called “Lehlokoana-la-Tsela” on the night of May 14 last year.
He had just hosted Minister Richard Ramoeletsi on the show to discuss the government’s deal with Principal Secretaries challenging their dismissal.
The police said Joki was ambushed by gunmen as he drove out of the radio station’s premises.
His brother, Motseki Joki, said a post-mortem had revealed that he was hit by seven bullets, including one on the head. The police discovered the plot after Rantheba visited Sesioana and Liphoto in prison to discuss the plot to kill Kumi.
Sesioana and Liphoto allegedly told Rantheba that a certain man would show him where Kumi lives.
Rantheba was remanded in custody and will be back in court on August 27.
Majara Molupe
