‘Mantoetse Maama
Three men who allegedly bombed the Standard Lesotho Bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM) located in the Maseru Industrial Area on 4 July, surrendered to the police on Monday this week.
According to the District Commissioner of Police-Maseru Urban, Senior Superintendent Mofokeng Kolo, the three suspects, aged 23, 29 and 37, would remain in police custody until their court appearance, whose date had not yet been set.
“Three men aged 23, 29 and 37 handed themselves to the police on Monday morning in connection with the bombing of the Standard Lesotho Bank ATM, situated in the Maseru Industrial Area.
“The bombing took place three weeks ago, resulting in cash being stolen,” Senior Superintendent Kolo told the Lesotho Times on Tuesday, adding police would continue with the investigations into the case.
“We have been looking for the suspects, who decided to come to us as they are notoriously known for such crime,” Contacted for comment, the Standard Lesotho Bank Marketing Manager — Public Relations, Communications and Sponsorships, Manyathela Kheleli, said he was not aware of the suspects’ arrest.
“The police have not yet updated us on the case, and neither are we aware that some suspects have handed themselves in. I believe when the time is right, they will let us know about any developments into the case,” Mr Kheleli said.
The suspects, he said, took “about M400 000” during the robbery, which reportedly took place at around 2am.
“About M400 000 was taken in the robbery, and this was our first ATM where criminals managed to get money this way. In previous attacks at NRH Mall and U-Save (along Kingsway in Maseru), they suspects were not successful as they failed to get any money.”
Mr Kheleli further said the robbery had come as shock to the bank.
“This came as a shock to us as a bank but at the same time, it was an alert to us to beef-up our security and always be ahead of the criminals to secure our property,” he added.
