MASERU – The two Members of Parliament and a prominent Maseru businessman who are accused of brandishing a loaded firearm at the National Assembly premises will know their fate on April 20 when the trial takes off.
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Jan. 7, 2021
THANDIE MTHIMKHULU
2 min read
Accused Ministers to know their fate in 2021
MP Mokherane Tsatsanyane and MP Dr Mahali Phamotse
The matter is due for the next remand on January 13 but the accused were in December 2020 excused from attending any further remands. The accused who include Dr Mahali Phamotse and Mokherane Tsatsanyane along with his younger brother Moorosi were in November 2020 released on free bail by the Maseru Magistrate’s Court.
Tsatsanyane is a former Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport while Phamotse is a former Minister of Gender, Youth Sports and Recreation. It is alleged that the two former ministers were found in possession of an unlicensed pump-action rifle that was loaded with two rounds of ammunition at the National Assembly premises on November 6, 2020.
Although details of what actually transpired still remain sketchy, but it is alleged that for some reason, Moorosi gave the loaded weapon to his older brother who was with Phamotse in her vehicle.
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Phamotse’s car and the loaded gun were confiscated by the court as part of evidence. The court later ordered that the vehicle and firearm would only be released to their owners upon provision of documents proving their legal ownership. The accused were granted bail on the basis of their statuses. The court believes that the trio will not abscond and will stand their trial to finality.
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