Sekete Lesaoana
A Kao mine employee, Tsele Mokone this week appeared before the Leribe Magistrate court charged with illegal possession of 29 diamonds.
According to deputy police spokesperson, Inspector ‘Mareabetsoe Mofoka, the suspect will appear in court on February 14.
Mokone was released after paying a M1500 bail and a M5000 surety. He was nabbed after police received a tip off from the Kao community.
The 37- year-old Mokone is from Ha Shishila in Butha-Buthe district.
Econet duped by its employees
In another incident, two women, Nthabising Lehleola (20) from Kolbere and ‘Marorisang Moreboli, (25) from Thabong II will appear in court on January 25 accused of defrauding their employer, Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) of money.
According to Inspector Mofoka, the two women were employees of ETL, hired to register SIM cards. They are paid on a commission basis.
The two are reported to have defrauded their employer by registering many people under one sim-card in order to increase their commission.
The company suspected something was wrong when one of the women claimed a M14 0000 commission yet there were no corresponding registered SIM cards. It was then discovered that one sim-card was used to register eight to 10 people.
The two women appeared in court on January 11 and they failed to pay M1500 bail and surety of M2000 each.
Chinese man steals Shoprite stock
A 40-year-old man, Youmink Chen, a businessman of Chinese origin appeared before the Maseru Magistrate Court on January 16 accused of theft.
Police report indicates that on January 05, 2023, a vehicle delivering goods to Shoprite stores in Mohale’s Hoek and Mafeteng districts successfully offloaded the goods in Mohale’s Hoek, but instead of going to Mafeteng, it drove straight to Maseru where it offloaded to the goods at a Chinese shop belonging to the suspect. Chen owns a business called Golden Brick Yard in Ha Motloholoa, Maseru.
It is understood that the value of the goods is M146 000.
Chen is believed to have bribed the truck driver and his assistant with M30 000.
The court granted him M4 000 bail, which he paid. He will appear in court again on January 22.
Gangsters kill one another
On January 1, a 33-year-old man from Matsoku, Ha Matete who lives in Ha Lephatsoane was gunned down at a party in Lihloahloeng.
According to Inspector Mofoka, on January 14 at around 3am, police arrested a 43-year-old man from Ha Lephatsoane in connection to the murder.
The second suspect fled from the police but his 9mm gun four bullets fell down and was recovered by the police.
Because at the scene where the deceased was shot it was found that a 9mm and a .38 Special gun were used the police asked the interrogated
The arrested suspect later produced a .38 special gun with six bullets after police interrogation.
The suspects and the deceased are belived to be members of Poho-e-ea-bohla Bochabeng gangster group, which seems to have factions within it.
The arrested suspect will appear in court when the investigations are completed.
Man in court over illegal gun possession
A 38-year-old man, Tumelo Shata from Mekaling, Phuthing was arrested on January 13 on suspicion of illegally possessing a 7.65mm pistol and four bullets.
Police met the man on the street and that’s when they became suspicious, then searched him and found a gun. He explained that he bought it in South Africa.
He was sentenced to two years in prison or pay M2 000, on January 16. He paid the fine and was released.
Two Basotho men arrested in SA for illegal gun possession
Two Basotho men were arrested by South African police on January 07 on suspicion of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition.
Police report indicates that the two men were arrested at the Maseru border when they were crossing into South Africa. They had hidden them in different places inside the car they were traveling in.
The two mean are a 34-year-old man from Motimposo and a 44-year-old man from Koalabata. They were found with three 9mm pistols and one revolver.
The first 9mm had 18 bullets, the second had 14 bullets, while the third had 16 bullets. The revolver had five bullets. Two of the guns had their serial numbers tempered with while the others still had the serial numbers.
Both men will appear in a Bloemfontein court once investigations are complete.
