A member of the Lesotho army, Private Moeketsi Lehlabathe, 38, No. 50601 who reportedly escaped from the army cells at Ha Ratjomose barracks, was re-arrested on Sunday night January 13, at Maseru Border Post trying to skip the country into South Africa.
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Jan. 17, 2019
2 min read
Fugitive soldier re-captured at Maseru border
Fugitive soldier
Private Lehlabathe had been sentenced to 80 days in detention spanning from December 20, 2018 to March 10, 2019. The army was still to find out how he escaped. A resident of Thoteng Mohale's Hoek who was residing at Upper Thamae in Maseru, Private Lehlabathe was reported by the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) command as highly dangerous and warned the public to alert the army and the police once they spot the man in question.
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He was nabbed after police received tipoff following a successful joint investigation for his re-arrest. Police Spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said private Lehlabathe was already a suspect on two counts of car theft, one which is 4+1 Honda Fit which he allegedly took at gun-point, while in other case, parts believed to be from stolen vehicles were found at his places of residence at Ha-Seoli and Borokhoaneng.
At the time he was still on the run, LDF Public Affairs Officer Captain Sakeng Lekola cautioned the public not to attempt to apprehend private Lehlabathe as he could pose a potential danger to their lives further advising them not to welcome him into their homes as he is a fraudster. “Anyone who would harbour the fugitive soldier or do anything that may hamper the LDF operation to re-arrest him could be acting in contravention of the LDF Act No. 4 of 1996 and would be liable to be charged under the same law even if they are not members of the LDF,” he said. A slim and tall and brown in complexion soldier will appear in court when the police investigations are complete.
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