MASERU — A columnist for Public Eye newspaper, Tukula Makhakhe, appeared in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing charges of armed robbery.
Makhakhe, 34, who was fired as the private secretary to Trade, Industry and Marketing Minister Popane Lebesa last Wednesday, is being charged together with two other men, Teboho Makobane, 26, and Karabo Thulo, 24.
All three were remanded in custody.
The court heard that Makhakhe and his two accomplices allegedly ambushed a garage, Maluti Motors, and robbed at gunpoint a cashier, Lineo Mokone, of money amounting to M120 000.
“You are all charged with armed robbery on that you or all of you intentionally and unlawfully assaulted Lineo Mokone by pointing a gun at her and took the property which was in her possession,” Magistrate Ts’eliso Bale said.
“You took M120 000 from Maluti Motors which was in the possession of Mokone.”
The court had to adjourn for 30 minutes to verify whether Makhakhe was a civil servant or not.
But it emerged that Makhakhe had been engaged in a private arrangement with the minister and not as a civil servant.
Makhakhe and Thulo are also facing a separate charge of armed robbery after the two allegedly seized M29 677 from a Lesotho Post Bank office in Maseru’s Industrial Area on February 6.
The court heard that the two allegedly threatened a Post Bank worker, Tsekisetso Nkoane, to release the money or else they would shoot him.
Makhakhe, who was sporting his trademark Afro hairstyle and clad in a grey jacket, bowed his head when the magistrate read the charges.
He only raised his head after the charges had been read to him.
Makhakhe’s wife and friends were in court to offer the suspect moral support.
Magistrate Bale advised the three to apply for bail at the High Court but however remanded them in custody.
The prosecution was represented by crown counsel Ts’epang Mafa while advocate Lebohang Matsoso represented the accused.
The case has been postponed to April 7 for set-down.
Makhakhe, a fiery columnist for the privately owned Public Eye newspaper, was fired from his job last as private secretary to the minister Wednesday for allegedly violating terms of his employment contract.
MASERU — A columnist for Public Eye newspaper, Tukula Makhakhe, appeared in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing charges of armed robbery.
Makhakhe, 34, who was fired as the private secretary to Trade, Industry and Marketing Minister Popane Lebesa last Wednesday, is being charged together with two other men, Teboho Makobane, 26, and Karabo Thulo, 24.
All three were remanded in custody.
The court heard that Makhakhe and his two accomplices allegedly ambushed a garage, Maluti Motors, and robbed at gunpoint a cashier, Lineo Mokone, of money amounting to M120 000.
“You are all charged with armed robbery on that you or all of you intentionally and unlawfully assaulted Lineo Mokone by pointing a gun at her and took the property which was in her possession,” Magistrate Ts’eliso Bale said.
“You took M120 000 from Maluti Motors which was in the possession of Mokone.”
The court had to adjourn for 30 minutes to verify whether Makhakhe was a civil servant or not.
But it emerged that Makhakhe had been engaged in a private arrangement with the minister and not as a civil servant.
Makhakhe and Thulo are also facing a separate charge of armed robbery after the two allegedly seized M29 677 from a Lesotho Post Bank office in Maseru’s Industrial Area on February 6.
The court heard that the two allegedly threatened a Post Bank worker, Tsekisetso Nkoane, to release the money or else they would shoot him.
Makhakhe, who was sporting his trademark Afro hairstyle and clad in a grey jacket, bowed his head when the magistrate read the charges.
He only raised his head after the charges had been read to him.
Makhakhe’s wife and friends were in court to offer the suspect moral support.
Magistrate Bale advised the three to apply for bail at the High Court but however remanded them in custody.
The prosecution was represented by crown counsel Ts’epang Mafa while advocate Lebohang Matsoso represented the accused.
The case has been postponed to April 7 for set-down.
Makhakhe, a fiery columnist for the privately owned Public Eye newspaper, was fired from his job last as private secretary to the minister Wednesday for allegedly violating terms of his employment contract.
