28 Mar 2022

A 34-year-old man of Boseja Ward in Maun, Orapeleng Baalwa, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Maun’s Chief Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalu for defilement.

The accused, who was sentenced on Friday March 25, faced a single count of defilement of persons under the age of 18 contrary to section 147 of the Penal Code Cap 08.01 of the Laws of Botswana.

Mr Mulalu stated that the court convicted Baalwa after taking into account that there were no exceptional extenuating circumstances in the matter.

As such he said the court had to impose a sentence not less than the minimum sentence.

He said the court also took into account that sexual offences including defilement were more prevalent in his area of jurisdiction in which girls became pregnant while some contracted sexual transmitted diseases, which destroyed their future.

“An appropriate sentence should be put in place to protect the girl child,” he said.

He stated that the court considered the mitigation in which the convict pleaded for leniency, saying he was a bread winner and also a first offender.

Chief Magistrate Mulalu, however, said defilement was a serious offence that attracted a minimum sentence of 10 years.

The accused person on or about January 19, 2020 at Boseja Ward slept with the victim, who was 15-years-old at the time. Ends