Lesotho Revenue Authority(LRA) Commissioner-General Thabo Khasipe, last week handed a massive boost in his quest to clear his name of tax evasion charges after the Constitutional Court ruled that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not have the powers to charge him for violating tax laws.

Mr Khasipe was appointed to the top LRA job in December 2016 but he was suspended shortly thereafter on the 6th February 2017, over misconduct charges in connection with his tax affairs.

He subsequently appeared before the Magistrates’ Court in Maseru on the 10th February 2017 to face eight counts of failing to file tax.

It was during that court appearance that his lawyer, King’s Counsel (KC) Motiea Teele, objected to his case being placed on remand, saying he intended to file a constitutional case before the High Court challenging the charges levelled against him.

KC Teele duly filed the application before the Constitutional Court to determine whether or not the DPP had powers to charge him, arguing that the LRA was the only body vested with powers to institute criminal charges on charges arising from the violation of income tax laws.