Rogue cop and accomplice in court, third suspect at large

KHOLU NTELE

MASERU – Sello Mpatlise, 39, from Taung, Mohale’s Hoek, who is a member of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) and works at Lithoteng Police Station, together with 32-year-old Lekhanyane Lefu from Maqhaka, Berea who lives at Ha Tsolo appeared before the magistrate’s court on February 2.

The two suspects are accused of staging an armed robbery and are in police custody waiting to appear before court again on February 16.

Senior Superintendent Mareabetsoe Mofoka said on January 16 at around 10:30 the suspects attacked a businessman at Mahlabatheng. According to the report the 55-year-old victim who originates from Pakistani runs a business in Nazareth. The suspects were wearing police reflectors pretending to be police cops when they approached the victim and pointed a gun at him before taking his money.

The victim fought them and managed to overpower the suspects and take back his money and even took the suspects’ gun.

The suspects tried to flee but the community and some members of the Lesotho Defense force who were nearby chased after them and caught up with them. The third suspect disappeared in a Honda Fit registration number DO29BBF believed to be owned by Mpatlise. The car was later found abandoned at Ha Mots’oeneng and is now in police station. The third suspect’s whereabouts remain unknown.