Three soldiers jailed for 1998 mutiny

Three Lesotho soldiers were sentenced to terms ranging from five to 13 years in prison on Wednesday for taking part in a mutiny two years ago. A court martial jailed Corporal Tseliso Seoka for 11 years, Private Lechesa Mohapi for five years and Private Hosana Sako for 13 years. In passing sentence, court president Major Clifford Pholisa said the mutiny had contributed to the lawlessness in Lesotho in 1998 in that “instead of the defence force helping to control the lawlessness, there was a vacuum.” He said the three soldiers would be discharged from the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). Their dismissal however has to be confirmed by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who is also the country’s minister of defence.