04 Nov 2020

A thirty-year-old man of Mogobe ward in Charles Hill accused of raping a 11-year-old primary school going girl has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The unemployed Lekang Mabote appeared before Ghanzi senior magistrate, Mr Thapelo Buang on November 3 for allegations that he committed the heinous act on or about October 31, 2020.

On Tuesday Mabote, who maintained that he was innocent, pleaded with the court to be granted bail in order to have a fair opportunity to seek legal representation.

The Prosecution, through Detective Constable Galabgwe Chisupo argued that the accused be denied bail.

Detective Chisupo stated that the investigations were still at an infant stage and that if granted bail the accused person could interfere with the investigations.

He advanced that as the child was from school when she met the accused, who allegedly slapped her before dragging her to his place, it suggested that the accused person was a violent person.

“The accused person might use violence to instill fear on the victim to stop her from revealing more information,” he said.

Also, the officer told the court that the victim, who was crying uncontrollably when he met him, had divulged that the accused had made her to bathe before and after raping her.

He also told the court that he had not yet met with the social workers to further advance investigations.

Representing prosecution, Sub Inspector Ditiro Kejele pleaded with the court that the accused be denied bail, because the case involved a minor.

The accused person was remanded in custody pending a ruling on his bail application slated for November 17. ENDS