’Mantoetse Maama
MASERU — A police constable shot dead a 53-year-old man “in self-defence” at Ha-Thetsane last Friday, the police have said.
Police spokesperson Masupha Masupha said the man attacked the constable accusing him of arresting him a few months earlier.
“The two were in Thetsane when the deceased attacked the police officer. He told the officer that he was not happy that he once arrested him for committing a crime a few months ago,” Masupha said.
Reacting to the attack the constable allegedly shot the man twice on the right thigh and once on the left thigh.
“If the explanation we got is true, I believe it is not fair that police officers should be attacked for doing their job,” Masupha said.
“The officer was doing his job by arresting the suspect like any other person,” he said.
The officer handed his legal firearm to the police but was not arrested as they are still waiting for a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Civil servants and law enforcement agents can only be arrested with the approval of the DPP.
Police are investigating the case.
In a separate case, a 25-year-old man from Mazenod was also shot dead by police last Saturday after he tried to resist arrest.
Masupha said the police went to the man’s home to arrest him but fled when he saw them.
Police shot him as he fled. He was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
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