25 Jul 2017

A teacher based at Badale Junior Secondary School was arraigned before Bobonong principal magistrate, Ms Florah Ramakoloi to answer for a single count of rape. 

Robert Modeme, aged 43, of Sepoda ward in Motlhabaneng in Bobirwa Sub-district appeared before Magistrate Ramakoloi accused of defiling a student, a charge he pleaded not guilty to. 

According to the charge sheet, the accused defiled an underage girl, an incident which is alleged to have happened at Selepswe cattle post, Mathathane in August 9, 2015.

The accused represented by Mr Rebatho Rantsudu of Rantsudu Attorneys and prosecution represented by sergeant Tebogo Kehupetse of Baines Drift.

Sergent Kehupetse told the court that investigations into the matter were almost complete. 

He stated that the police were yet to record two statements and would call seven witnesses and students were among witnesses and the defence had not yet been furnished with statements. Magistrate Ramakoloi set December 4, 5 and 7 as trial dates and the accused would appear for another mention on August 29. 

In another rape case, Magistrate Ramakoloi set November 27 and 28 as trial dates for Lesedi Maranyane 32, of Rasetimela ward in Bobonong also charged with rape. 

Magistrate Ramakoloi released him on bail and the accused was set for another mention on August 21.

Maranyane faces a single count of rape to which he pleaded not guilty and also stated that he would represent himself. 

He was alleged to have committed the offence on June 24 in Bobonong. Inspector Mokganedi Gaofetoge of Bobonong police told the court that investigations into the matter were complete.

The court further set November 13 and 14 as trial dates for Samuel Matakane, 39 of Serumola ward in Mathathane also accused of rape and the accused was released on bail.

Matakane pleaded not guilty to the charge and informed the court that he would conduct his own defence. 

Sergeant Tebogo Kehupetse stated that the defence served the accused with statements and would call five witnesses during trial.

In another separate case Magistrate Ramakoloi denied bail to four people facing five counts ranging from burglary, stealing from a dwelling house to shop breaking for having invalid reasons for bail. 

The accused men Lesedi Marope popurlaly known as Ghoro, aged 33, of Rasetimela ward, and his accomplices Munyakhi Bokang Maposa 29 and William Dube 24 both from Kafusi, Gwanda in Zimbabwe and Nametso Comfort Maboka of Rasetimela were further incarcerated. 

Prosecutor inspector Gaofetoge appealed to the court that the four must not be granted bail because the first accused Marope was a convict serving a 10 year jail term passed on him on absentia. 

He said Maposa and Dube were foreign nationals residing in the country without documents while the fourth accused Maboka was arrested alongside the accused at his house where some property alleged to have been stolen was found at his house. 

Inspector Gaofetoge said since the arrest, the four had refused to be finger printed and applied that they be ordered to be fingerprinted to allow the police to wrap up investigations. 

Magistrate ordered that they be fingerprinted and also that Marope who had made a request to view his medical cards be granted that request in an open court .

As for Maboka who claimed to be a student at Bobonong Brigade, Ms Ramakoloi said there must be proof and denied them bail and would appear for another mention on August 3. 

The court also arraigned Bakang Kgosimang of Molalatau for failure to supply a breath sample for alcohol test without valid reasons as well as Obakeng Mabeana and Molebeledi Maroba for drunken driving and exceeding the prescribed limit. ENDS