…as High Court orders her to act within 24 hours
Moorosi Tsiane
MASERU Magistrate, Mamorojele Qoo, is facing serious allegations of abuse of judicial power after a businesswoman dragged her before the High Court, accusing her of obstruction of justice and using the courts to advance personal and family interests.
High Court Justice Polo Banyane was this week forced to intervene and order Magistrate Qoo to deliver a long-delayed bail ruling after she allegedly failed to do so for weeks, despite the State not opposing bail, leaving the accused woman in custody.
The applicant, Maseru businesswoman Thato Masheane of Ha Motloheloa, approached the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an order compelling Magistrate Qoo to deliver a ruling on her bail application, which was filed on 2 January 2026.
Through her lawyer, Attorney Khotso Nthontho, Ms Masheane told the court that the Magistrate’s conduct went beyond mere delay and amounted to a deliberate abuse of judicial authority, allegedly influenced by family ties and personal hostility.
Ms Masheane was arrested on 2 January 2026 and charged with theft and fraud before Magistrate Qoo. She immediately applied for bail—an application that was not opposed by the State—yet she was remanded in custody.
The ruling, initially expected on 16 January, was postponed by Magistrate Qoo to 19 January 2026. However, no ruling was delivered on that date either, prompting Ms Masheane to seek urgent intervention.
Mr Nthontho first wrote to Chief Magistrate Matankiso Nthunya on 22 January, alleging abuse of power and bias. However, Magistrate Nthunya reportedly declined to intervene, forcing Ms Masheane to approach the High Court.
Appearing before Justice Banyane on Tuesday, Ms Masheane alleged that the complainant in her criminal case, Manthatisi Sekonyela, is closely related to Magistrate Qoo, creating a reasonable apprehension of bias.
Through her lawyer, she told the court that Ms Sekonyela’s husband, Borena Habokhethe Sekonyela, is the brother of Magistrate Qoo’s father. She further claimed that this blood relationship is reflected in the similarity between the Magistrate’s maiden name, Mpati Sekonyela, and that of the complainant’s family.
Ms Masheane also alleged that Magistrate Qoo and the complainant share a close personal friendship, citing shared birthday celebrations, mutual assistance during personal crises and regular social interaction.
She told the court that in 2023, Magistrate Qoo hosted her birthday celebration at The Market and invited both the complainant and herself, an event Ms Masheane said she personally attended.
In 2024, when Magistrate Qoo’s house was damaged by fire, she allegedly sought assistance from the complainant. Ms Masheane claimed she was instructed to transport the Magistrate’s children to the complainant’s guest house for safety.
She further alleged that when the complainant’s father died in 2024, Magistrate Qoo supported the funeral by lending utensils and linen—items Ms Masheane said she personally handled while employed by the complainant.
“These facts, taken together, create an objective perception that the Magistrate cannot impartially adjudicate this matter,” Ms Masheane argued, adding that a reasonable observer would apprehend bias in favour of the complainant.
Ms Masheane also claimed that her prosecution was driven by business rivalry, alleging she was targeted after opening her own guest house following the termination of her employment with the complainant.
“I am being harassed because I opened my own guest house. They believe I took their customers, which is not true. They accuse me of theft and use the police and the courts to deny me my freedom so that my business can collapse while I remain in prison,” she told the court.
She further told the court that her efforts to seek justice were frustrated when the court file allegedly disappeared from the criminal registry, making it impossible for her to apply for Magistrate Qoo’s recusal.
Mr Nthontho urged the High Court to declare Magistrate Qoo’s conduct an abuse of power and obstruction of justice, arguing that the removal of the court record rendered the accused helpless.
After hearing the matter, Justice Polo Banyane ordered Magistrate Qoo to deliver the bail ruling within 24 hours of receiving the court order—a rare and firm judicial intervention.
