Maseru, Jan. 13 — Magistrate Nkhethoa Molapo has directed Leleko Monyane (23), Tumelo Lechaea (32) and Mafa Nkhabu (42), who are charged with robbery with violence involving High Court Judge Justice Polo Banyane, to furnish exceptional circumstances before their bail application can be considered.
The three accused appeared before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court, where their bail application is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday this week.
In applying for bail, Advocate Maphake Ramotsokoane, representing Monyane (A1), told the court that his client is a citizen of Lesotho and is not a flight risk. He said the accused is unemployed, married and has a nine month old child, and survives by hustling in town.
Lechaea (A2) told the court that he is also a Mosotho citizen who sells overalls in town and is not a flight risk. Nkhabu (A3) stated that he is a citizen of Lesotho who sells fruits in town and would attend all court remands if granted bail.
In his ruling, Magistrate Molapo stated that the accused had failed to satisfy the court on exceptional circumstances, noting that merely stating that they are citizens of Lesotho and self employed did not meet the legal requirement for bail in such a serious offence.
Magistrate Molapo said the court agreed with submissions made by counsel for the Crown that the defence for A1 would need to properly adjust and reduce the evidence in line with legal requirements, as the current evidence had been presented from the bar without formal proof.
Considering the seriousness of the offence, Magistrate Molapo ruled that the accused be given an opportunity to adjust their evidence to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that may warrant their release on bail.
The accused persons are alleged to have acted in concert on January 01, 2026, at the Arrival Centre in Maseru, where they allegedly threatened to use violence against High Court Judge Justice Polo Banyane by pulling a knife and attempting to stab her in order to steal an iPhone 15 valued at M32,000.
Monyane, Lechaea and Nkhabu remanded in custody and will appear in court on January 14, 2026.
Ends/MAMAJ/tl
