Sexual abuse case turns into possible human trafficking

In a dramatic turn of events, a case involving sexual abuse of a nine-year-old minor, has taken a whole new twist. The police now find themselves having to deal with an even ‘dirtier’ criminal case.

In a previous court session, Village Senior Magistrate, Tshepo Thedi had issued a warrant of arrest against the child’s mother. Then, the suspicion by the State was that the mother was deliberately keeping the child away to frustrate the court process. The State believed that since the accused was her lover, she was trying to frustrate the process so he could possibly find a loophole and be set free.

In the matter, the 43-year-old Zimbabwean man, (names withheld to protect the child) is charged with a single count of rape. The facts of the matter are that the man sexually abused the nine-year-old, who is the child to his girlfriend at their home sometime in April this year.

“The accused person on April 2023 at Gaborone West Phase 1, in the Gaborone administrative district of the Republic of Botswana had unlawful carnal knowledge of Thato (not her real names) without her consent,” reads his charge sheet.

In the last court session, the magistrate issued a warrant of arrest against the nineyear-old victim’s mother and also directed that once apprehended, the victim should be taken under the custody of the social welfare office.

On Thursday, the police made a breakthrough. Following tip offs from members of the public, the mother to the victim was located and arrested. She was then immediately brought before court to allow the police to apply for her remand in custody.

This was because when she was arrested, it became apparent to the police the young child’s mother was heavily pregnant. The Monitor can further reveal that upon arrival at the home, the police were met with a bombshell.

According to an insider, the police found, at the house the victim and her mother were kept, other children whom the police are questioning who they belong to. The deplorable house is now a potential crime scene. The children have now also been taken under the custody of the State as investigations continue.

In court, however, the mother to the abused child dropped another bombshell; she penned down a confession.

The mother to the nine-year-old victim claims she was infact not frustrating court process as the State had suspected. She too was a victim.

According to her, she was ‘kidnapped’ by the accused, her lover’s brother and kept hostage at a one room house in Mogoditshane. The mother, now claiming to be a victim, says the accused’s brother threatened her and even went as far as sexually abusing her whilst she was pregnant with his brother’s child. However, the court ordered that she be remanded in custody until today (Monday). The police have been directed to arrest the accused’s brother as the dramatic case continues. Reached for comment Gaborone West Police Station Commander, Superintendent Knight Molosiwa confirmed his station is handling the matter of the sexual abuse involving a minor. However, when asked to share details of the arrest of the mother, the G-West top cop could not divulge more information.

According to an insider, the police found, at the house the victim and her mother were kept, other children whom the police are questioning whom they belong to