Seabata Mahao
A senior intelligence officer of the National Security Services (NSS) is in police custody on suspicions of molesting a girl and a boy aged 14 and 16 years respectively.
The suspect is a 52-year-old Mosotho man who resides in Levi’s Nek, Leribe.
According to Police Deputy Spokesperson, Inspector ‘Mareabetsoe Mofoka, the suspect who is also a pastor at his church told his congregation that he was looking for a shepherd for his livestock when one woman volunteered her grandson to help the preacher.
Mofoka said on the first night of the victim being at the pastor’s house, the pastor molested him.
She said the victim fled the suspect’s house on the early hours on the following day and went to the police station where he reported the incident.
Reports further show that on May 10, 2022, the suspect insisted on giving the second victim a lift from school telling her he had something to give her so that the girl can pass it on to her parents since they are related. However, upon arrival at his house, the suspect proceeded to sexually molest her and threatened her with his service gun if she ever reported the incident to anyone.
Mofoka said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has given a directive for the suspect to be prosecuted adding that the suspect appeared before the magistrate on May 18, 2022 and was granted a bail of M2 800.00 with a surety of M20 000.00 which he paid.
Meanwhile, four men charged with stock theft are currently awaiting trial in police custody and are expected to make their second appearance before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on May 24, 2022.
This is after they all failed to pay a M1000 bail money each along with M20 000.00 surety each.
The men Khabo Mohato (42) from Ha-Thamae, Hare-Batho Khesuoe (44) from Ha-Seeiso in Thaba-Bosiu, Sempa Mosotho (42) from Mants’onyane but resides at Qoaling and Mokone Mokhoko (58) from Motimposo made their first appearance before the same court on May 14, 2022.
According to Mofoka, the suspects stole goats from an 84-year-old Mosotho man who resides at Ha-Seeiso in Thaba-Bosiu.
Mofoka said 20 of the stolen goats were found at Ha-Thamae at the first suspect’s house where two of them were already slaughtered.
In other reports, Tello Lebina (24) from Ha-Ts’iu appeared before the Maseru Magistrate Court on charges of illegal possession of a 7.65milimitre firearm and its four bullets.
Mofoka said the suspect was sentenced to four years imprisonment but was given a change to pay a fine of M2 000.00. the court however suspended the whole sentence for a year and released him from custody.
The police report show that the suspect was arrested during a police operation by investigating officer, Police Constable Paballo Nkuatsana earlier this month outside central Maseru.
Meanwhile, an Israeli national Tom Srugo aged 35 who lives at Lesia in Ha-Thetsane appeared before the Maseru Magistrate Court on May 13, 2022 on charges of illegal trade of marijuana.
Mofoka said the court granted him a M5 000.00 bail along with M10 000.00 surety and was asked to hand over his national passport to the registrar of the court.
According to Mofoka, the suspect was once given permission to trade marijuana at Kolonyama where he did not plant or grow any marijuana until his license agreement expired.
It was noted that investigating officer for the case Ts’epo Manosa found that in the seven roomed house which Srugo stayed in, six rooms were full of marijuana planted in 376 flower pots.
Summary
- According to Police Deputy Spokesperson, Inspector ‘Mareabetsoe Mofoka, the suspect who is also a pastor at his church told his congregation that he was looking for a shepherd for his livestock when one woman volunteered her grandson to help the preacher.
- Reports further show that on May 10, 2022, the suspect insisted on giving the second victim a lift from school telling her he had something to give her so that the girl can pass it on to her parents since they are related.
- Mofoka said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has given a directive for the suspect to be prosecuted adding that the suspect appeared before the magistrate on May 18, 2022 and was granted a bail of M2 800.
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