BEASTLY BETRAYAL
Man accused of raping lover’s 12-year-old daughter
LABELLED a paedophile and a sexual predator, a 40-yearold man has been remanded in custody by Molepolole Magistrates’ Court accused of raping his girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter.
The suspect, who cannot be named to protect the little girl’s identity, is said to have raped the child at his home in Kgope village on 1st August while her mother was away at work.
It is believed to be the latest attack in a sustained series of sexual abuse that dates back to April last year.
Sources revealed the girl, her siblings and their mother were staying together at the mum’s boyfriend’s house. The mother was not around often, however, after she got a job in Molepolole where she was employed as a livein housemaid.
“She usually checks on them twice in a month when she is off duty,” said the source, adding it is suspected the abuse started shortly after the mum was hired.
The matter came to light when the police received a tip-off and, acting on the information, arrested the accused.
It is rumoured the mother became aware something was not right as far back as May, on one of her visits home. It is said that while enjoying a drink at the fireplace in the yard, the suspect retired indoors, leaving his lover outside. Wondering why he was taking so long, she went to check on him only to find him entering her daughter’s blankets.
In court, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent, Uyapo Koketso, filed an affidavit successfully requesting the accused be denied bail.
The affidavit indicated statements were still to be recorded from other witnesses, most being the suspect’s relatives since he had been staying with the victim, who is in Standard Four, in the same house as daughter and father.
“Looking at the brutal conduct by the accused person on the victim, I am of a view that the victim is not safe around him. The victim is currently schooling and it would be injustice for her to be disturbed from schooling. Throughout the interview, the victim broke into tears, which suggests that the incident traumatised her, which prompts continuous counselling sessions,” reads the affidavit.
Begging for relief, the suspected child rapist said he should be set free so he can attend to his livestock.
Unimpressed, Chief Magistrate, Gaseitsewe Tonoki, chose to lock the suspect up for now, giving the prosecution time to investigate and consider a place where the girl can stay.
The accused will be back in court on 13th September.