Kasane Senior Magistrate Wame Mosugelo has remanded Kasane deputy station commander, assistant superintendent Othusitse Marape who is facing a single count of defilement.
Marape appeared in court on Wednesday, after he was arraigned last week in absentia, due to an illness, it was alleged.
The 60-year senior old police officer is alleged to have had sexual intercourse with a 15-year old girl of Kgaphamadi ward in Kasane near Chobe JSS sometime in May this year.
The investigating officer Detective Superintendent Bagopi Khumo pleaded with the court to remand the accused person in custody as investigations into the matter are still on-going. He also stated that while the accused was on house arrest the victim and her mother once came to their office expressing their concern that the suspect may put their lives in danger.
Khumo further revealed that as part of their investigations they have seized the victim’s and the accused’s cell phones. He added that the suspect is a well-known person with a high rank therefore he might engage someone like family members to interfere with the investigations and the victim’s family.
Directorate of Public Prosecution Chief Counsel Moffat Dick also pleaded with the court to remand the accused in custody, arguing that if released there is a high likelihood that he may jeopardise proper functioning of the criminal justice system. He stated that owing to his rank as assistant superintendent, also deputy station commander, the accused person may influence other police officers to distract the investigations into the matter. Dick further stated that the accused’s release may disturb public peace.
The defendant’s attorney, Charles Tlagae argued that the accused person is on suspension, therefore if released he would be out of duty and there was no likelihood of him influencing other police officers to distract investigations into the matter.
Delivering the ruling on bail application, Kasane Senior Magistrate Wame Mosugelo concurred that the accused person is a police officer holding a high rank and his social influence cannot be ignored. She stated that if released the accused may jeopardise or interfere with the investigations.
Mosugelo added that the accused is reported to have been exchanging gifts and money with the victim therefore he may again influence the child and the investigations. The matter has been adjourned to the 16th December 2024 for status update while the accused person is remanded in custody. In 2008 Marape was convicted and sentenced to 10 years for another defilement case that was however later set aside by the Court of Appeal after quashing the conviction. Marape was then accused for having had sexual intercourse with a 16-year old teenager in March 2006 at Gumare village where he was working as a police inspector.
