MASERU — Public Eye columnist, Tukula Makhakhe, who is facing two counts of armed robbery, was on Monday granted M1 400 bail by the High Court.
Makhakhe, who is denying the charges, is being charged together with two other men, Teboho Makobane and Karabo Thulo.
Makhakhe and Makobane were each granted bail of M1 400 while Thulo was granted bail of M700.
In his bail application, the trio’s lawyer Advocate Lebohang Matsoso said his clients should be presumed innocent until a court ruled otherwise.
Matsoso said his clients had so far fully co-operated with the police and had promised to attend trial until the matter is resolved by the courts.
Makhakhe first appeared in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ts’eliso Bale last week to answer charges of armed robbery.
The court last week heard that Makhakhe and Makobane allegedly raided Maluti Motors at Ha-‘Nelese on February 23 and robbed the garage of M120 000 which was in the lawful possession of Lineo Mokone.
The accused are alleged to have used guns in inducing the victim to release the money.
Makhakhe and Thulo are also facing a separate charge of armed robbery after the two allegedly seized M29 676.60 from Tsekisetso Nkoane on February 6 at the Post Office in the industrial area in Maseru.
The two are alleged to have threatened to shoot Nkoane if she refused to hand over the money.
Makhakhe and his co-accused were ordered not to interfere with crown witnesses and report at Mejametalana police station.
They were also ordered to attend court until the matter is finalised.
Crown counsel Advocate Tsebiso Fuma did not oppose the granting of bail.
“Bail is granted as prayed for except that bail deposit is M700,” said High Court Judge Lisebo Chaka-Makhooane.
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