Maseru, June 04 — The Maseru Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday granted bail to six Semphetenyane residents accused of involvement in a recent tyre burning protest over poor road conditions, while a seventh accused was granted bail of M500 after allegedly resisting arrest and obstructing justice.
During the bail application, Advocate Ntho Ntho, representing six of the accused, argued that the residents had acted out of frustration over the lack of basic services, particularly the poor condition of the road serving Semphetenyane. He told the court that all residents had been affected by the long standing road problem.
Advocate Ntho further stated that one of the accused was merely a passerby who happened to be at the scene when the arrests were made. He said the individual was arrested after being found in possession of his licensed personal firearm, despite not having participated in the alleged offences.
He pleaded with the court to release the seven accused on their own recognisance, a request that was granted by the magistrate.
In a separate application, Advocate Mpheulane Posholi represented another accused person who was alleged to have obstructed justice and refused to submit to arrest. Advocate Posholi requested that his client also be released on his own recognisance.
However, the court denied the request and instead granted bail of M500.
The accused was unable to pay the bail amount on the same day because the court’s accounts office had already closed and was expected to make payment the following day.
Speaking to the Agency after the court proceedings, Mrs. Mateboho Molieleng expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision. She said the magistrate had failed to consider the circumstances that led to the protest, particularly residents’ frustrations over the deteriorating road conditions.
Mrs. Molieleng said she fully supported the protest and believed all residents had collectively agreed to the action. She questioned how only a few individuals had been selected for arrest when many residents had participated.
Another resident, Mrs. Mphonyane Rakhare, also voiced concern over the handling of the matter. She said it was unfortunate that one of the accused had to spend a night in police custody because the accounts office had closed before bail could be paid.
Rakhare said the accused had arrived at court before 9:00 a.m. but were only assisted after 2:00 pm. She further alleged that police officers harassed residents at the protest scene despite the demonstrators not being violent and only singing during the gathering.
Residents remained gathered outside the court following the bail hearing for the accused individuals they had come to support, expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the proceedings. They said they were particularly concerned that one of the accused was forced to spend the night in a police cell after failing to pay bail on the same day due to the closure of the court’s accounts office.
ENDS/MMK/tl
