Khubetsoana mob fatally assaults suspected robber

LINEO MALATALIANA

MASERU – A suspected robber died last week at the hands of a mob in Khubetsoana after committing a robbery at a local pharmacy and causing severe injuries to a pharmacist on duty. Three suspects allegedly entered a pharmacy at Khubetsoana ka Motseng in the afternoon, before making off with money and brutally assaulting the attending pharmacist. According to eye witnesses, the three individuals posed as customers to execute the crime.

One eyewitness, who refused to be named, recounted the incident, saying, “The three men entered the pharmacy; I heard a woman scream, and shortly after, the three emerged running, catching the attention of young men in the vicinity who began to chase after them.” A neighbour who was close by also shared the details: “When the three men were inside the pharmacy, they requested bandages. The elderly pharmacist bent down to get them and was met with a gun in her face when she tried to hand them over. They warned her not to make any noise, expressing their sole interest in money and her phones. Subsequently, they bound her, took her to the back room, and subjected her to physical abuse.”

Continuing the account, the neighbour added: “They assaulted her, stole a safe containing M500 and some coins, along with her phones, before fleeing the scene. The elderly woman, after being found and untied, complained of a painful body and injured teeth.” Community members pursued the suspects to the nearby Mohokare River where one of them, armed with a gun, fired shots to deter pursuers and managed to escape into the forest on the opposite side of the river.

The other culprit also evaded capture. However, the community succeeded in apprehending one of the suspects just before he could disappear into the forest. They allegedly beat him up, dragged him through the water, and then took him back to the other side, where the assault continued. It was only later that they realised the culprit had succumbed to injuries. The community recovered the safe with only coins inside, but the phones remained missing.

Chief Hlathe Majara’s assistants, Mpho Maqalika and Makhobalo Majara, confirmed that the elderly victim was severely assaulted and is currently in the hospital. However, they refrained from commenting on the deceased culprit. Police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Kabelo Halahala, said a case has been opened by the pharmacist. The deceased is a 30-year-old man from Matlokong, Mathebe, in Mafeteng. He is yet to be buried, and a post-mortem is pending.