/ 2 February 1999

LESOTHO EX-LEADER UP FOR MURDER

FORMER Lesotho military leader Elias Ramaema was charged on Monday with being an accessory to murder and robbery relating to the stabbing to death of an Irish national two weeks ago. Ramaeme, who was charged in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court along with his son and daughter-in-law, was not asked to plead and the case was remanded until February 12. The former military ruler, who oversaw the kingdom’s transition to democracy in 1993 after taking power in 1991, was arrested at the weekend after being linked to the murder of 75-year-old Irishman Ken Hickey, the theft of his mobile phone and 4×4 vehicle. Hickey was a volunteer development worker.