Hopolang Mokhopi
THREE men have been charged in the Maseru Magistrates Court for robbing High Court Judge Polo Banyane of her iPhone 15 Pro Max cellphone, valued at M32 000.
The trio appeared before Magistrate Mohlomi Qhomane yesterday. Prosecutor Advocate Keketso Motiki requested that their bail hearing be deferred to Friday.
Magistrate Qhomane remanded the accused to the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) custody after formally charging them with robbery. He also informed them of their right to legal representation, either by a lawyer of their choice or through Legal Aid if they cannot afford private counsel.
According to the charge sheet, Leloko Monyane (23) of Ha Abia, Tumelo Lechaea of Tšenola, and Mafa Nkhabu also of Tšenola, allegedly pulled a knife on Justice Banyane and robbed her of her cellphone at Arrival Centre in Maseru.
“In that upon or about 1 January 2026, at or near the Arrival Centre in the district of Maseru, the said accused, in furtherance of a common purpose, unlawfully and intentionally used or threatened to use violence against one Polo Banyane, to wit, by pulling a knife and attempting to stab her in order to steal or obtain property, namely an iPhone 15 Pro Max, the said property valued at M32 000,” part of the charge sheet reads.
In a separate matter, Magistrate Qhomane also remanded 22-year-old Seitlheko Tsapane of Bokong, on the outskirts of Maseru, into LCS custody.
Tsapane is charged with the murder of Molefi Morai, allegedly committed on 16 August 2022. According to the charge sheet, Tsapane allegedly struck the deceased on the head eight times with a stone, fracturing his skull and causing his death.
The magistrate remanded the murder case to 20 January 2026 after reading out the charge and informing Tsapane of his right to legal representation and to apply for bail before the High Court, which has jurisdiction over murder cases.
All the accused, Justice Banyane’s alleged robbers and Tsapane, confirmed that they understood the charges against them.
