MASERU — A National Security Services (NSS) secret agent and his wife were on Tuesday each sentenced to four years in prison for robbery.
The court heard how agent Thebets’oana Lelala, 30, and his wife Lieketseng Mohloki,
24, who works at the National University
of Lesotho, tricked Marethabile Moepi
before robbing her of M4 300.
The robbery happened on November 30 2009.
The couple had apparently met Moepi
at Boliba Multipurpose Cooperative where she had gone to encash a cheque she had received from Edu-loan, a financial
institution that provides educational loans.
The prosecution said the couple had persuaded Moepi to encash the cheque at Nedbank instead.
Moepi told the court that after she encashed
the cheque, the couple then tricked her to accompany them to Maseru West.
She said when they got to Maseru West, Lelala then pointed a gun at her and demanded
that she hand over the money to Mohloki.
The court heard that he had used his 0.38 service pistol during the robbery.
Moepi said she handed the money to Mohloki who ran away with it leaving her with Lelala.
She however raised alarm and private security guards who were nearby immediately
arrested Mohloki.
Lelala later ran away but handed himself
to the police the following day.
Lelala and his wife also handed over to the police M588 of the money they had taken.
And between December and April they also repaid another M1 000 to Moepi, the court heard.
The couple pleaded guilty and was found guilty as charged.
The two could however escape jail if they each pay a fine of M4 000.
They were also ordered to pay Moepi M3 712 before April 26 as part of conditions
for them to avoid being jailed.
In mitigation Lelala said he was a first offender and he had a family to look after.
“I beg the court to give me a lenient sentence.
I’m married with two children and one of them is still at school,” he said.
“I also support my parents and pay the school fees of my brother who is at NUL.”
Mohloki said: “I beg the court to give me a lenient sentence.
“I have a family which I support and I have been cooperative with the police during
their investigations.”
The case was before Magistrate Molemo Monethi.
Lelala is stationed in Mokhotlong.
