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Police trio in court over bribe charge

by Lesotho Times
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MASERU — Three Roma police officers appeared in the Maseru Magistrates’ Court to face a charge of corruption.

The three were remanded to next Wednesday when they appeared before magistrate ‘Manapo Motebele.

The police constables, only identified as Mochekelele, 26, Leteba, 28, and Thoola, 34, all based at Roma police station, were charged under section 21 (1)
Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act No.5 of 1999.

The crown alleges that on December 11 while on duty at Roma, they directly agreed or accepted an offer of M1 600 from one Retseliso Mokoma who was a suspect in a murder case.

Mokoma had also been allegedly found in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

According to the prosecution, the three told Mokoma that he would not be locked up in a police cell and that the case against him would be withdrawn if he gave them money.

They were each granted bail of M500 on condition that they attend remands and that they do not interfere with crown witnesses.

They were not asked to plead and  were ordered to appear in court on Wednesday for set down. Meanwhile, two other men appeared separately before magistrate Teboho Thoso charged with murder.

Molefinyane Sello, from Ha Hlao at Ha Mokhalinyane in Maseru district, is alleged to have stabbed one Thinyane Thinyane to death with a knife on January 28.

He was not asked to plead.

Magistrate Thoso advised him to apply for bail at the High Court and remanded him to February 10.

In another case Thapelo Molise, of Liolong in Thaba-Bosiu, was charged with murdering Motlatsi Molise by hitting him with a stick during a fight.

Molise died in hospital after sustaining several wounds to the head and one on the chin.

The accused was remanded to next Thursday.

The court also advised him to apply for bail at the High Court.

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