Sello Morake
MASERU — Two Indian men and a Mosotho woman appeared in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on Thursday charged with smuggling drugs and corruption.
It is alleged that Robertson Patel, 16, from South Africa smuggled pills into Lesotho though Moshoeshoe International Airport on October 13 this year.
The state also alleges that he did not pay customs duty and levies for the pills.
He was jointly charged of the same crime with Sajid Patel, 32.
The state alleges that Sajid assisted Robertson to smuggle the pills and avoid paying duty.
The pills included Arithromycin (500mg), Esomeprazole (10mg), Clopidogrel (75mg), Sildenafil (100mg), Tadalafil (20mg) and Senegra (100mg).
The two were jointly charged with ´Malintle Masoabi,28, an employee of the Lesotho Revenue Authority.
Masoabi is alleged to have demanded a bribe from Robertson to help him smuggle the drugs.
Robertson was ordered to pay M10 000 bail while Sajid was made to pay M40 000.
They were also ordered to surrender surety worth M100 000 each.
The court also ordered them to surrender their passports.
Robertson was however allowed to go back to Johannesburg on condition that he reports to the police once a month and attend remand hearings.
They were ordered not to interfere with crown witnesses.
Masoabi was ordered to pay a bail of M500, surrender her passport and not to interfere with crown witnesses.
The case is before Magistrate Ts´eliso Bale.
It will resume on November 5.
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