MAN, 74, LASHED AT MOLEPOLOLE KANGAROO COURT
A 74-year-old man is seeking justice for illegal lashing at a kangaroo court that was held by Molepolole tribesmen commonly known as bo-ralekgotla.
The Rasune ward tribesmen assaulted Kesentseng Gaosegelwe after a short unofficial trial where he was found guilty of refusing to discuss a case pending before a legally recognised court in which he is a witness.
Gaosegelwe has since dragged to court his alleged abusers, 62-year-old Taolo Lebang, who lashed him and Lloliki Gaosegelwe, 66, who ordered that he be lashed.
The case, however, has been dragging on since March as the chief, the prosecuting officer and the investigating officer keep giving excuses as to why they can’t show up for trial.
Meanwhile, speaking in an interview, Gaosegelwe said his cousin, Ophaketse Gaosegelwe, had summoned him from the lands to discuss a certain family matter at the mock court.
“After I arrived from the lands, a group of 16 men and three women gathered and demanded that I share with them the evidence which I am going to give at an ongoing court case of a dispute over family inheritance.”
He further stated that when he refused to comply, Lloliki gave an instruction for the old man to be given two strokes of the cane on the buttocks.
Lebang allegedly then fetched a big stick and beat Kesentseng, brusing him and making it difficult for him to walk and sit down and distressing him emotionally.
The assault case has been postponed indefinitely because the investigating officer couldn’t confirm when he would be available for trial.