Former Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) head in Lesotho, Thabo Thakalekoala, has been found guilty of sedition by the High Court after a marathon case, writes Mzimkhulu Sithetho.
He is yet to be sentenced, but faces two years in jail or a fine of M200 (R200). A distraught Thakalekoala broke into tears as the judge read his judgment in a packed courtroom.
The journalist, who has recently announced he is entering politics, had been charged with sedition, crimen injuria, criminal defamation and subversion after reading an open letter over the now closed Harvest FM. The other three charges were dismissed by the court. The letter called for the arrest of the prime minister on charges of corruption.
In his judgment, the judge said that the court found Thakalekoala guilty of sedition because the letter he read said that Prime Minster Pakalitha Mosisili was a foreigner as he held a South African identity document.
“Although public figures are subject to criticism, Thakalekoala went beyond the limits,†the judge said.