Ntsoaki Motaung
26 year old Selebalo Kelane appeared before the Maseru Magistrate Court on 10 November 2020 accused of abduction and marriage by force. He was read his charge and granted a M1600 which he was unable to pay, hence he is awaiting trial in custody.
Police reports indicate that Kelane abducted a 14 year old girl whom he barely knew, and forced her into eloping with him. According to Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, when the minor would not cooperate he assaulted her.
He will appear again in court on 24 November 2020.
Qacha’s Nek
Tekane Sejojo, 49, of Ha Ratšiu in the Qacha’s Nek district appeared before the Magistrate of Qacha’s Nek 12 November 2020 accused of violating sections 1 (c) and 2 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2011. Upon appearance in court, his bail application was denied, hence he awaits trial in custody and will appear in court again on 26 November 2020.
According to police reports, the suspect enticed his victim, a 43 year old woman on June 2, 2020 to go to Matatiele in South Africa with him promising her employment that would fetch her salary of M1900 monthly. However, upon her arrival the suspect started to sexually abuse her until July 3, 2020. It is reported that when the victim would refuse to have sex with him, the suspect would brutally abuse her.
On the 6th November 2020 the victim opened a case after she was helped to escape and come back to Lesotho.
Operation restore hope 14 guns and 65 bullets were collected and 30 people were arrested, there was also a car suspected to have been stolen which was found abandoned.
