Mohalenyane Phakela
MURDER and attempted murder-accused former army commander, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, who has been languishing in remand prison for more than a year, will have to wait longer for his bail application to be heard.
Lt-Gen Kamoli’s bail application had been set for Monday 8 April but it failed to take off due to the fact that no judge had been assigned to preside over the case.
Lt-Gen Kamoli faces a murder charge in connection with the killing of Police Sub-Inspector Mokheseng Ramahloko at the Police Headquarters in Maseru during the attempted coup of 30 August 2014.
Lt-Gen Kamoli is charged alongside Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Lance Corporal Motloheloa Ntsane and Lance Corporal Leutsoa Motsieloa.
He also faces 14 counts of attempted murder in connection with the 27 January 2014 simultaneous bombings of the Moshoeshoe II homes of First Lady Maesaiah Thabane and the Ha Abia residence of former police commissioner, Khothatso Tšooana.
In this case Lt-Gen Kamoli is charged alongside Major Pitso Ramoepane, Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Sergeant Heqoa Malefane and Corporal Mohlalefi Seitlheko.
The former army commander has been languishing in remand prison since his arrest in October 2017 and on Monday he had hoped that the High Court would hear and grant his bail application.
However, the bail hearing was postponed to a yet to be announced date when the case would have been allocated to a judge.
Acting Judge, Justice Moroke Mokhesi, postponed the case after Lt-Gen Kamoli’s lawyer, Advocate Molise Molise, asked that it be placed on the allocation list so it could be assigned to a judge.
“During the last appearance (of Lt-Gen Kamoli on 18 March 2019) the matter was postponed because the crown opposed the matter so I ask that this court place the bail application on the allocation list so that I can be granted a judge who will then give us a hearing date,” Adv Molise asked Justice Mokhesi.
Crown Counsel, Advocate Letsatsi Masoeu also told the court the prosecution was ready to present its opposing arguments once the bail hearing got underway.
Justice Mokhesi agreed to place the Lt-Gen Kamoli’s application on the allocation list so that it will be allocated to a judge who will then set a date to hear the defence and prosecution’s arguments.
It never rains but pours for Lt-Gen Kamoli as he was on 17 January 2019, added onto the list of suspects who stand accused of murdering former army commander, Maaparankoe Mahao.
Initially only eight soldiers were charged with Lt-Gen Mahao’s murder are these are Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Captain Haleo Makara, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi, Sergeant Motsamai Fako, Corporal Marasi ‘Moleli, Corporal Motšoane Machai, Corporal Mohlalefi Seitlheko and Corporal Tšitso Ramoholi.
The list of suspects has since increased to 10 after the addition of Lt-Gen Kamoli and the former National Security Services (NSS) Director and head of Military Intelligence, Tumo Lekhooa.
Mr Lekhooa has not attended any of the court sessions after he fled the country last year.
