Lesotho’s former first lady, Maesaiah Thabane, was granted bail on Monday despite objections from the police that she is a flight risk.
Thabane is accused alongside her husband, former prime minister Thomas Thabane, of the murder of Lipolelo Thabane, the former leader’s wife.
The former first lady was arrested earlier in June after an appeal court revoked her bail on suspicion that due procedure was not followed when it was issued.
The 43-year-old has been charged with ordering the killing of Lipolelo, who was shot dead near her home in Lesotho’s capital, Maseru, in June 2017.
She denies any involvement in the murder.
When police tried to question her earlier this year, she left the country for neighbiouring South Africa.
“The petitioner has fled before and is likely to do so again. She is also very dangerous and has resources she can use to hire hitmen to interfere and eliminate the witnesses,” Lesotho’s Deputy Police Commissioner Paseka Mokete said in his objection to the decision.
Lipolelo was estranged from Thomas Thabane at the time of her murder. Her killing came two days before the latter became Prime Minister. Thomas married Maesaiah a month later. He is also a suspect but denies any involvement and has yet to be formally charged.
