MASERU — A 29-year-old man from Mphaki in Quthing who is charged with the theft of motor vehicle parts was on Tuesday denied bail by the Maseru Magistrate’s court.
Khutlang Pule was arrested last November in Khubetsoana but escaped from police custody during the same month.
The police allege Pule fled to his home in Mphaki but was arrested over the Christmas holiday season.
Pule applied for bail but his application was turned down with the prosecution charging that he had a tendency of running away from lawful arrest.
“I have an objection to the granting of bail because the accused has an inclination of running from police custody,” said prosecutor ´Mamongonyo Baasii.
“I would ask the court to remand him to 19 January for him to come and make a proper bail application.
“I can’t proceed with the case at the moment because we have so many things in our hands.
“There are new matters which are still trickling in even as I have appeared before you, your worship.”
In a separate case, the magistrate’s court also denied bail to 18-year-old Peter Moribe who is facing a charge of attempted murder after he stabbed ´Mamolipa Mokhobo with a spear on Christmas Day.
Moribe said he was still making arrangements to secure a lawyer to represent him in the case.
He also said he did not have any money for bail.
He was remanded to January 19.
The case was before Maseru Magistrate Senegal Qobolo.
Meanwhile, five South African nationals were on Tuesday each sentenced to three years in jail or pay a fine of M2 000 each after they were convicted of fraud.
Itumeleng Khasoane, 30, Kenny Eka, 33, Mpho Masilo, 36, Thabiso Molise, 36, and Meshack Litsebe, 36, were arrested on New Year’s Eve for selling fake tickets at a jazz festival held at Khotsong Lodge in Thaba-Bosiu.
The five sold fake cheaper tickets to jazz fans with organisers of the show claiming in court papers that they had been defrauded of M21 000 through the scam.
The organisers of the show said they found 109 fake ticket stubs.
When they confronted the people who had brought the tickets they managed to identify the sellers.
Lebenya Makakole, who was checking the tickets at the entrance, caught a number of people with suspicious tickets.
He reported the matter to the police.
One of the five South Africans, Molise, was immediately arrested for selling the fake tickets.
Molise unsuccessfully tried to refund the cash but the police declined his offer saying a crime had already been committed.
This led to the arrest of his other four accomplices.
The serial numbers of the tickets which were found from Molise were 4180023, 4180024, 4180025, 4180026 and 4183563.
The South Africans were represented by Advocate Lepeli Molapo.
Magistrate Makopano Taole presided over the case.
