‘Mantoetse Maama
MASERU — A 22-year-old man who allegedly forced a minor girl to become his wife and repeatedly raped her is on the run.
The suspect allegedly forced the victim, 15, to elope with him to a village just outside Maseru on June 14.
While at the village, the suspect allegedly sexually abused her until she escaped on June 28, police spokesperson Masupha Masupha told the Sunday Express.
Masupha, however, refused to name the suspect or the village saying he wanted to protect the identity of the victim.
The victim managed to escape her two-week ordeal after the suspect took her to visit his brother in Maseru, the police spokesman said.
“While at the brother’s house the girl managed to escape and told neighbours about her ordeal,” Masupha said.
“The girl told the neighbours that the suspect had been raping her since June 14.”
The suspect is believed to have fled after he heard that police were looking for him.
Masupha said the suspect is likely to be charged with statutory rape.
“Even if the girl had agreed as long as she is under the age of 18 it is against the law because that child cannot make her own decision,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Mafeteng, a 26-year-old man from Qalabane village is lucky to be alive after his two uncles allegedly torched a house that he was sleeping in on Tuesday.
The man told the police that he had to escape through a back window after his uncles, aged 33 and 45, allegedly set the house alight.
He said the two men had accused him of threatening to kill their 77-year-old mother.
“The victim reported that his two uncles came on the night of June 29 and demanded that he open the door for them but he refused,” Masupha said.
“The two suspects broke the door and the window, went into the house and poured petrol before they lit the house.”
Masupha said one of the suspects has been arrested while the other is still at large.