‘Mantoetse Maama
MASERU — A police officer and his wife were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly stealing copper cables belonging to Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL).
When police raided the constable’s house in Ha-’Masana, they also discovered a bag of dagga and other goods that they suspect could have been stolen.
The cables, reportedly worth over M1 million, were found hidden in the couple’s cattle kraal, according to police spokesperson Masupha Masupha who confirmed the arrest.
“Police got a tip-off from villagers that there were ETL cables at the home of one police officer in Ha ‘Masana,” Masupha said.
“When police arrived at his house they found cables, a bag of dagga and other goods that police were suspecting he acquired illegally.”
Masupha however refused to reveal the suspect’s name saying he had not yet appeared in court.
He said the suspect and his wife were by Friday still in police custody and investigations were in progress.
Police sources close to the investigations told the Sunday Express this week that the constable had allegedly used a police vehicle to steal the cables from Mazenod, about 15km south of Maseru.
Telephone and internet reception in Mazenod and surrounding areas were disrupted after the copper cables were stolen.
Police officers say the cables have a ready market in South Africa.
“As South Africa clamps down on cable thieves we are likely to get more cases of stolen cables in Lesotho,” said a police officer who refused to be named.
“The thieves who have wreaked havoc in South Africa are likely to shift their focus to Lesotho.”