Nthatuoa Koeshe

THE police are looking for Makarabo Mojakhomo who fled from police custody on Thursday where she had been detained in connection with the fraud and theft of at least M200 000 from the First Lady, Maesaiah Thabane’s Trust Fund.

In a statement on Friday, Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, said Ms Mojakhomo fled from police custody while the police were making preparations to have her appear in court for fraud and theft by false pretences.

“Police are looking for Makarabo Mojakhomo from Lecoop, Khubetsoana in Maseru who escaped from police custody on 31 May 2018 between the hours of 9am and 10am at a time when we were preparing to take her to court for her hearing,” Supt Mopeli said.

Ms Mojakhomo is alleged to have defrauded the First Lady and some businesses of hundreds of thousands of maloti under false pretences.

“Mojakhomo is alleged to have stolen money amounting to M125 000 which was meant to pay for a building rented by the First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane’s Trust Fund.

“She also took property worth M17 000 from the office of the trust fund. Mojakhomo took M65 000 from Decorat Art Furniture Manufacturers after misrepresenting to them that the money would be used to prepare for a birthday party for Ms Thabane at Avani Lesotho,” Supt Mopeli said.

“The police are requesting anyone with information about Mojakhomo’s whereabouts to call the Police Headquarters on the following numbers, +26622317262 or +26622322099,” Supt Mopeli said.

The Cabinet Secretary, Advocate Makhetha Motsoari, who is also a trustee of the trust fund, recently told the media that they suspected that the fraud and theft had been happening since August last year when the trust fund started.

“It is only now that some people and institutions are beginning to come out to complain about her,” Adv Motsoari said, adding they had received reports from some companies who claim that Ms Mojakhomo had approached them to donate towards Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s birthday celebrations.