Mantoetse Maama
A two-and-a-half-year-old child was sexually abused by an unknown assailant in Katlehong on Monday last week.
According to the District Commissioner of Maseru Urban Police, Senior Superintendent Mofokeng Kolo, the child had gone to the shops with her friends when she was lured away by the suspect, who is still at large.
“The girl’s 32-year-old mother went to the police to report that her two-and-a-half-year-old baby had been sexually assaulted by an unknown man.
“She told the police that the child had gone to the shops with other youngsters, and on their way back, the suspect had somehow lured her away from her friends and assaulted her.
“It is suspected that the man had followed the baby and her friends from the shops, before pouncing on the child,” Senior Superintendent Kolo said.
According to Senior Superintendent Kolo, the girl’s mother later noticed that her child was finding it difficult to walk, and decided to inspect the baby.
“When the mother noticed that her daughter could not walk properly, she sensed that something was wrong.
“She then decided to examine the child, only to find out that she had been raped.
“She tried to ask the child who could have been behind the crime but due to her age, she could not identify the culprit. Her friends could also not say what had happened or identify the culprit.”
Senior Superintendent Kolo has appealed to the public to help in identifying the criminal.
“The police have not arrested the suspect, and we appeal to members of the public to help us bring this perpetrator to book.
This is a very dangerous man who might continue assaulting and claiming more victims if he is not arrested as a matter of urgency.
“Although this is the first time such a crime has been reported in this village, there is no way of knowing this is the only time the criminal has attacked residents of this community this way.
“That is why we appeal to anyone who might have any information that might help us arrest this criminal, to come forward and assist us as we continue with our investigations.”