Ramainoane arrested

MASERU – MoAfrika FM managing director, Sebonomoea Ramainoane, was arrested on Friday afternoon.

Ramainoane was in the lobby of the Palace of Justice at the High Court when three plain clothed police nabbed him.

He had gone to the High Court to hear a judgment on the closure of his radio station, which the government shut down on Wednesday.

Prominent politicians from the opposition parties were in attendance in solidarity. The radio station is seen as pro-opposition.

The arrest came after the High Court had dismissed his urgent application for the immediate reopening of his radio station after the government closed it for 72 hours.

He was coming out of the courtroom when the police, who were waiting for him in the lobby, pounced.

A large crowd of his followers booed the police and tried to pull him back and in the whole confusion he fell to the ground.

The police hand-cuffed and frog-marched him to a waiting van outside.

Police spokesman Inspector Mpiti Mopeli says he is yet to find out why Ramainoane was arrested.

The Acting Communications Minister, Thesele ’Maseribane, announced on Monday that he took a decision to shut down the radio station after the National Security Service advised him that it was broadcasting hate speech and statements that could incite violence.

staff reporter