Kasane police deputy commander, assistant superintendent Othusitse Marape has been arraigned before court for a single count of defilement, involving a 15-year old girl of Kgaphamadi ward in Kasane sometime in May this year.
The 61-year old top police officer, who was arraigned (in absentia) before the Kasane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday was reported to be on a sick leave hence the matter was postponed to December 2, 2024.
Appearing for the State, the directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) chief prosecutor, Moffat Dick told court that the matter was still fresh and that investigations were still on-going. He therefore pleaded for the accused person to be kept under house arrest pending his appearance in court.
The prosecutor also pleaded with the court for the Marape to be restricted from communicating with the victim and her family members while under house arrest.
Kasane Magistrate Thabang Chokwe acceded to the request and ordered for the accused person not to communicate with the victim and her family members during his sick leave days nor meet her for whatever reasons. He further ordered that the assistant superintendent keep a distance of 100m from the victim.
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.
