23 Sep 2020

Court has sentenced Maithamako Koomogetse, 49, of Boronyane Ward to 15 years imprisonment for rape.

Koomogetse was facing two counts of rape for which he got 15 years each and the sentences will run concurrently.

Reading out the sentence on Tuesday, Chief Magistrate Thebeetsile Molalu said though the court considered Koomogetse’s mitigation, rape was a serious offence, and given that he did not use protection when he had unconsented sex with two victims, as revealed by investigation, the court was compelled to give firm sentence.

Mr Molau also said there were no extenuating circumstances found.

Again, he said court further took into account the fact that Koomogetse had previous convictions that involved violence and one of rape that were committed around the year 2000, something he said showed that he had failed to repent.

“The court therefore sentences the accused person to 15 years for the first count of rape and 15 years sentence for the other count of rape to be served concurrently,” he said.

Particulars of the offence were that on August 18, 2018, Koomogetse met with the victim at Disaneng Ward when she was walking from home to school and another at Sedie Ward on August 26, 2018 who was walking to church  He is reported to have on each incident started talking to the victim before grabbing them by the neck and dragged them to a nearby bush to rape them.

Meanwhile, the magistrate expressed concern about escalating incidents of rape and other gender based violence cases in the country. Ends