20 Jul 2016

A 25-year old man had his bail revoked after he failed to comply with his bail terms.

Thato Peter of Ga-Sekgalo ward in Kang  was granted bail after he was charged for unlawfully assaulting Ms Aone Mogaga by strangling her throat until she became unconscious.

He is also facing another  charge of unlawfully causing grievous harm by stabbing Mogaga above the right eye with a scissor thereby deforming her eye.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Poloko Oteng,  on July 14, filed  an urgent application before Hukuntsi magistrate, Ms Robin Sethantso, to revoke the accused bail term after he breached one of the bail conditions, which restricted him from meeting or visiting  the victim.

The court leant that the accused visited the victim’s house on July 12 afternoon and asked for the victims whereabouts.  

According to the victim’s testimony, the accused visited her home accompanied by a family friend and he was met by her grandmother in the victim’s absence.

Upon hearing of the accused visit to her house, the complainant told the court that she reported the matter to the police in fear of her life.  She therefore pleaded with the court to implement strict restraining orders against the accused.

However, the accused indicated that it was never his intention to visit the complainant’s home but was however persuaded by the complainant’s cousin.  He said the visit was purely on friendship bases to check on the complainant’s grandmother.

In his plea to remand the accused in police custody, Assistant Superintendent  Oteng said the accused was a danger to the society because allegedly committed murder while on bail.  

He said the accused was a perpetual offender, therefore it would be in the best interest of the society to remand him in custody pending the conclusion of all charges laid against him.

He said the accused had also in the past failed to avail himself to mention for some of the offences.

He therefore proved to be untrustworthy and should not be granted bail.

For her part, Magistrate Sethantso  indicated that  she was convinced that the complainant  fears were not unsubstantiated, considering the serious injuries the accused inflicted on her.  

She therefore ordered the accused detention in the best interest of the complainant’s safety and the community

She said the accused had already pleaded guilty to the offences laid against him  and was only awaiting sentencing on August 15. ENDS