Two men jailed five years for cocaine possession

…as Magistrate condemns drug dealers for “destroying families and society”

Hopolang Mokhopi

MASERU Magistrate Puseletso McPherson has sentenced two men to five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine after they were convicted of possessing cocaine, saying drug trafficking is destroying families and communities.

The convicted men are Khopolo Thejane of Ha Tsolo and Sephoso Bokhatsi of Khubetsoana.

Delivering her judgement this week, Magistrate McPherson said she had no tolerance for drug abuse and regarded drug dealing as even more destructive, noting that she had never seen anyone addicted to cocaine lead a normal life.

“It wastes money, your health and resources. It also affects the lives of the people around you and even those who are not around you,” she said.

She described the devastating impact of drugs on families and communities, saying cocaine addiction often drives users to violence and crime in their desperation to obtain money for drugs.

“Children who use cocaine don’t have money, but they will do anything to get drugs, even stabbing their mother with a knife or demanding pension money from their grandmother,” she said.

Magistrate McPherson added that drug addiction often leaves families destitute, as users sell household possessions such as sofas and microwaves to finance their habit. With few rehabilitation facilities available in Lesotho, she said the damage caused by drug abuse had become overwhelming.

Addressing the accused directly, she said: “My dear brothers, know that this is not personal. I am not fighting you personally, but I am fighting your job, because the damage you have caused outside is unbearable.”

She dismissed their plea in mitigation, in which they argued they were selling drugs to provide for their families, saying they were doing so by destroying other people’s families.

Referring to the law under which the pair were charged, Magistrate McPherson noted that it provides for a fine of not less than M20,000 or imprisonment for not less than five years. However, she said imposing a fine would defeat the purpose of the law because drug dealers often have the means to pay and then resume their illegal activities.

“If I fine you M20 000 and you pay and continue selling drugs, then what purpose does the whole process serve? Nothing. So, I am going to send you to jail,” she said.

She sentenced both men to five years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.

The magistrate added that even if the two were cocaine users themselves, serving prison terms would at least help them detoxify from the drug.

Family members of the convicted men murmured in court, expressing their dissatisfaction with the sentence.

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