15 Feb 2022

Maun Chief Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalu has sentenced a 23-year-old man of Boseja ward in Maun to 10 years imprisonment for defilement.

Sentencing the accused, Botshelo Nanjunga on Monday, Chief Magistrate Mulalu said there were no extenuating circumstances found therefore the minimum sentence for defilement was applicable.

He said the court took into account that defilement of girls under the age of 16 was a serious offence and that such sexual offences were prevalent in his jurisdiction.

Chief Magistrate Mulalu said that the accused had during mitigation pleaded for leniency as he said he was a bread winner and had societal problems which probably led him to committing the offence.

He said the accused had also claimed that the victim whom he met at a bar had lied about her age therefore he assumed she was of legal age.

Chief Magistrate Mulalu said the accused’s claims were refuted by the prosecution.

He said there was evidence that the victim had fallen pregnant as a result of the sexual offence although the prosecution did not dwell much on that part.

The court, he said should therefore take appropriate measures that would protect the girl-child from such crimes.

Nonetheless, he said the sentence would take into account the 17 days the accused spent in custody while awaiting sentencing.

Particulars of the offence are that the accused person unlawfully had sex with the victim who was about 13 years between June 15 and July 25, 2017 at Boseja ward in Maun. BOPA