By ‘Mantoetse Maama

MASERU — A police officer and four  other  men have been arrested after they were found in possession of counterfeit South African notes amounting to R378 000 at the weekend.

One of the suspects was caught at a petrol station after making a payment with a fake R100 note.

District Commissioner of Maseru Urban, Senior Superintendent Mofokeng Kolo, confirmed the incident.

“The management at the petrol station at the Industrial Area called the Hoohlo Police to report that a man had just paid for petrol with fake money. When police got there they arrested the suspect and then searched his vehicle,” Kolo said.

“While searching the vehicle they found about R98 000 worth of fake money hidden in the car,” he said.

The suspect told the police that he had been planning to deposit the money into one of the banks in Maseru so that it could be swapped with real money.

He offered to assist the police arrest his accomplices by calling them to confirm an appointment the next day.

“On Sunday he called his colleagues for a meeting. Among the men who came for the meeting was a police officer and he was promptly arrested,” he added.

The suspects then told police that there was more fake money in Lekokoaneng in Berea.

When police got to Lekokoaneng, they found more counterfeit notes amounting to R280 000 hidden at one of the suspects’ home.

The suspects will soon appear in court.

Police are further investigating the case.