Maseru, January 15 — A government employee working at the Maseru Magistrate’s Office, Senior Probation Officer was arrested by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) on Thursday after he was allegedly caught in a trap with M7,000 in cash.
The officer is suspected of soliciting money from members of the public while falsely promising to secure them employment in the Public Service, an act that is illegal and misleading.
Addressing the media during a press conference in Maseru, the Acting Director of Investigations at DCEO, Mr. Tau Phasumane, said the arrest followed a series of investigations prompted by reports from the public.
‘We initiated investigations after receiving information that there was an individual demanding money from people while promising them government jobs. These reports were consistent and raised serious concern, ‘said Mr. Phasumane.
He explained that the investigations led DCEO officers to him , prompting the Directorate to set a trap in order to verify the allegations.
‘Today we managed to arrest the suspect within the precincts of the Maseru Magistrate’s Court while he was allegedly receiving money. An amount of M7,000 was found in his possession at the time of arrest,’ he said.
Mr. Phasumane stressed that no one is authorized to sell or promise government employment in exchange for money and warned the public against falling victim to such schemes.
‘Recruitment into the Public Service follows clear and transparent procedures. No one should be asked to pay money in order to be employed. We urge members of the public to report anyone who demands money under the pretext of securing employment,’ he added.
The DCEO confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and that Jacob is expected to appear before court once legal processes are completed. The Directorate has not ruled out the possibility that other individuals may be involved in the alleged scam.
Members of the public are encouraged to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious or corrupt activities as part of efforts to combat corruption in the country.
Ends/NT/BM
