Police bust M8 million kidnap plot

0

 

CELINAH MATSIE

MASERU – Police have seized 14 guns and 36 bullets in their weekly Zero Tolerance operation, police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli announced this while addressing the media on Monday, November 17.

These include a 7.65mm gun with seven bullets, 12 pump action rifles with 21 bullets, and a 6.25mm gun with eight bullets.

Mpiti also announced that eight people were arrested in an operation in which a stolen car was found, along with four bags of marijuana and their five sachets, 17 knives and four fighting sticks [melamu].

In the same district, a 25-year-old man from Bela-Bela, Ha-Ntisa, currently living at Upper-Thamae, a 28-year-old man from Ha-Mokhalinyane, Ha-Hlao, who is also a member of the Lesotho Defense Force and a 29-year-old man from Ts’enola, Majoe-A-Litsoene who is a street vendor were arrested for allegedly kidnaping a 49-year-old Chinese man from the station area. The Chinese businessman is an entrepreneur and the owner of Enimat wholesale in Borokhoaneng. The incident happened on November 14.

Mpiti said the three men had a meeting with one Bangladeshi man who is also an entrepreneur and owns some companies in Maseru. A discussion was held at the Sea-Point cemetery where the Bangladeshi businessmen hired the trio to carry out the kidnap mission.

The men were given a 7.65mm gun and on Wednesday 13 November the Bangladeshi called the soldier, who is part of the three-man gang informing him about the whereabouts of the Chinese man.

Mpiti further said the men followed the Chinese from the station until he was at Lower-Thamae where he was about to be kidnaped but was rescued by villagers and the police.

The men were expecting to share M8 million if they managed to kidnap the Chinese man and hand him over to the Bangladeshi.

Two men who are also members of the Lesotho Defense Force were also arrested.

A 27-year-old man from Teyateyaneng, Ha-Mohapinyane who owns the Honda Fit that was used in the criminal offense and a 31-year-old man from Thoteng, Mohale’s Hoek, currently staying at Khubetsoana who lent the men his 9mm gun were arrested.

All the suspects are expected to appear before the court although the date has not yet been confirmed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *