- Co-accused at large
A 21-year-old man of Moeti ward facing two counts of raping a minor and robbing her of property worth P3500 has been remanded in custody by Maun Principal Magistrate Gofaone Mosweu. The second suspect accused of jointly committing the same offence is said to be still at large.
The accused persons are said to have on the 29th March 2024 near Moeti ward in Maun acting jointly and with common purpose had carnal knowledge with a 17-year-old girl and thereafter robbed her a black laptop worth P3000, Oale phone valued at P500 and cash amounting at P30.
Appearing before Mosweu this week, state prosecution pleaded for the accused person to be remanded in custody arguing that the matter is at an infant stage and the complainant in the matter is a minor who is still traumatised by the ordeal and is unable to even go to school.
Prosecution pleaded for the accused person to be remanded for 14 days where the investigating officer will be availed at their next mention to deliberate on why the accused person should not be granted bail.
For his part, the accused person who broke down in court, requested to be granted bail arguing that he is the one taking care of their family’s livestock adding that his parents are unable to do so due to old age.
Particulars of the offence are that on that fateful day around 1945 hrs the complainant left her homestead in Moeti to Boseja ward and while she was waiting for a taxi by the pavement the two accused persons approached her.
It is said that one of the accused persons brandished an okapi knife and placed it on her back threatening to stab her if she made noise.
The victim is said to have screamed and called for help from passing vehicles but one of the accused persons slapped her. The other accused then took the school bag containing the victim’s belongings.
It is alleged that the accused persons dragged the victim to a nearby abandoned house and both raped her without using a condom and thereafter fled the scene.
The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to the arrest of two suspects while one was at large. The third suspect was however not charged since he did not commit the offence or participate in the ordeal.
The accused persons will appear on the 18th April 2024 for status update.
