‘Mantoetse Maama
MASERU — Three police officers this week allegedly burnt R1 million in counterfeit notes after they realised that the net was closing in on them.
Police spokesperson Masupha Masupha told the Sunday Express that the three officers burnt the fake notes at Ha Tsolo in Thetsane after realising their colleagues had received a tip off.
Masupha said their act of burning the notes was yet another crime as they were obstructing the course of justice.
“No arrests have been made yet but we are investigating the matter,” Masupha said.
In a separate incident last week, another police officer was arrested in Teyateyaneng alongside one woman after they were found in possession of counterfeit South African currency to the value of R900 000.
Masupha said the woman appeared in the Teyateyaneng Magistrate’s Court where she was fined M30 000 after pleading guilty.
She was committed to jail after failing to pay the fine.
Masupha said the police officer appeared in the Maseru Magistrate’s Court where he was remanded in custody.
He is expected to appear in court again soon.
Last year the police recovered R93000 from five men in Butha-Buthe.
Police had received a tip off that there was a group of men who were moving around with counterfeit money.
The suspects, three male Basotho nationals and two male South African nationals, were caught in different districts of Lesotho.
The police said most people who are caught in possession of counterfeit notes are mostly illegal diamond dealers.
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