05 Jan 2016

A boarding master at Shadishadi Primary School accused of molesting three pupils of that school recently appeared briefly before Molepolole magistrate  Ms Rosemary Khuto on three counts of defilement. 

The 27-year-old Onthusitse Tlhowe allegedly defiled three girls under the age of 16 between August and November 2014 while employed as the boarding master by the ministry of education based at Shadishadi Primary School.   

Information brought before court in the form of a charge sheet reveals that the accused, Onthusitse Justice Tlhowe, between August and November 2014, date not known to the prosecution at or near Shadishadi pond in the Kweneneg district had carnal knowledge of three girls aged between 15 and 16. 

Efforts by the accused’s defence counsel Relaeng to have the accused released on bail bore no fruits after the prosecution argued that the matter was still under investigations and the  social work department of Kweneng District Council was still to make its own investigation and submit a report that could assist police investigations.  

Magistrate Rosemary also insisted that he could only listen to the bail application after the S&CD report has been submitted to guide on what could be done. 

Meanwhile the prosecuting officer Inspector Lekone told the court that the bail issue can only be persued in the presence of the substantive prosecutor and that the victims were still undergoing counseling. Inspector Lekone further said they are likely to bring another case of defilement against the accused.

The matter which was initially heard by Molepolole Chief Magistrate Faith Dlamini-Ng’andu could not see light of the day after the state prosecutor Sergeant Modiredi Modise requested the court to consider postponing bail issue after the finalization of police investigations as the number of similar cases were likely to increase.The case continues on January 05. Ends