Twenty-one years old man from Phamong in the Quthing district, was arrested by the police on the 17th July this year, accused of rape and forced marriage to a thirteen years old girl.

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) deputy spokesperson Sergeant ‘Mareabetsoe Mofoka, said the man and the girl were allegedly in a relationship, and the man forced the girl into marriage.

Mofoka further stated that the guardian of the victim was told about the marriage, and she demanded her to be returned as she is still young, but the man did not release the girl.

The family welcomed the girl by slaughtering a goat, and giving her a new name according to their tradition.

Mofoka said on the 17th July 2020, Phamong police went to fetch the girl from the marriage.

She said from the 2nd July when the man forced the victim into marriage; until when police came to rescue her, the man had been sleeping with her.