A police officer arrested by members of the Lesotho army for attempted robbery after allegedly trying to rob a businessman with a fake gun, has not opened any case of assault against the soldiers who pummeled him.
news
Jan. 30, 2021
2 min read
Robbery suspect has not opened assault case
Lesotho police officer (L) who allegedly tried to rob with a toy gun
The Lesotho Mounted Police (LMPS) denied that one of the two robbery suspects has opened an assault case against members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) as well as members of the community who assaulted him after a botched robbery attempt on a Pakistan business man at St. Michael's on Monday early this week.
Speaking to LENA in a telephone interview, LMPS Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli denied the social media reports that police constable who was seen being assaulted with assortment of weapons such as sticks, fists, kicks, stones has not yet opened a case against anyone for assault.
He said what he only knows is that he was released from St. Joseph's Hospital at Roma where he was admitted on the same day of his arrest, after sustaining multiple injuries after being assaulted, saying the suspect is now in a stable condition.
Enjoy our daily newsletter from today
Access exclusive newsletters, along with previews of new media releases.
Snr/Supt Mopeli said the duo has not yet appeared before the court, saying currently the courts only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays due to the prevailing national lockdown which is set to expire next week Wednesday after the seven day extension.
He said the police have since applied for the further detention in police custody while police investigations are continuing.
They are facing an attempted robbery case after erecting an illegal police roadblock along the mountain road last week Monday and stopped a vehicle transporting a Pakistan businessman from Ha Ntsi to Maseru, after threatening him and the driver with a toy gun.
However, the Pakistan businessman fought back and overpowered the would be suspects who had taken away a bag of cash.
In the process, the business man managed to take his bag back and alerted nearby members of the community who chased away the suspects and eventually managed to catch them and handed them to the Roma Police.
LDF members who were nearby also responded to the incident and assisted in the arrest of these two suspects one being a policeman while another is a member of the community.
Tailored for you
