Lesotho PM fails to appear for murder charge on medical grounds: aide
Updated | By AFP
Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, who was due to be charged with the
murder of his estranged wife, failed to appear in court on Friday on medical
grounds, an aide said.
"He is not attending court, he has gone for a medical check up in South Africa," his personal secretary Thabo Thakalekoala told AFP, adding it is a "routine" medical check.
Thabane left the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho on Thursday, the same day that police announced he was due Friday to appear before a magistrate for murder charges to be formally read out to him.
Earlier on Friday the PM had announced on the state broadcaster that he would quit office by the end of July due to old age.
READ: Lesotho PM to be charged with murder of estranged wife
The 80-year-old is accused of having acted "in common purpose" in the June 2017 killing by unknown assailants of Lilopelo Thabane, 58, then his wife.
The killing occurred two days before the premier took the oath of office following elections.
His current wife Maesaiah Thabane, 42, who he married two months after Lipolelo's death, has also been charged with the same murder of her rival.
The death shook the landlocked kingdom of Lesotho, which is entirely surrounded by South Africa.
In his inaugural speech, Thabane described his wife's murder as a "senseless killing".
Show's Stories
-
Listen to Vic Naidoo's farewell message to the team and KZN
"After a lot of reflection and a lot of consideration and deliberation, ...
Vic Naidoo 1 day, 7 hours ago -
Video shows why you shouldn't use a cellphone while driving
A real-life example of how quickly your life can be compromised when you...
Carol Ofori 1 day, 8 hours ago