11 May 2025

A 25-year-old boyfriend whose school-going underage girlfriend tried to shield from the wrath of the law has been sentenced to a 10-year imprisonment for defilement.

Taolo Okie, who resides at Tsolamosese in Mogoditshane, was by Magistrate Gofaone Morweng of Broadhurst Magistrate Court on Thursday for defiling a 15-year-old form three pupil of Tsolamosese in 2021.

“The societal expectation is that those who commit such offences should face the wrath of the law[in full might],” the magistrate said.

He said the convict, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, did not present any extenuating circumstances to be considered before his sentencing.

He said Okie had a sexual encounter with the victim aged 15 years, which resulted in pregnancy, hence introducing her to motherhood at a young age.

There was a six years age difference between the two when the affair blossomed, adding that failure by the convict to establish the victim’s age could not help his defence.

The magistrate said Okie in his evidence said they were both residents of Tsolamosese, and they started their love relationship in 2021, which led to the victim missing her monthly period, and he advised him to tell her mother.

However, the victim refused saying she was afraid as she was underage. 

Nonetheless, she eventually went to the clinic, where the nurse called the mother and informed her of the pregnancy.

In spite of the presence of the nurse, he said, the victim refused to disclose the name of the boyfriend until she gave birth.

“At all the material times, she kept the identity a secret as she did not want him to be arrested,” Magistrate Morweng said.

He said it was only after birth that the victim confided in one of her relatives the identity of the baby’s father, which led to the arrest of the convict after the police were involved.

The magistrate said the blood samples were extracted from the convict and the baby, whose analysis showed that Okie could not be excluded from being the father.

For his defence, he said Okie called two witnesses who attested to the relationship between the two, adding that the convict told the court that he had on two occasions asked the victim about his age, but he was not sure if the victim said she was 18 or 19 years.

Also, he said Okie had told the court that he had been taking care of the baby ever since the pregnancy was reported to his family.

The magistrate further said the court was of the view that the accused could be rehabilitated. The sentence will date back to the date of his incarceration.

The magistrate also advised the convict of his right to appeal the sentence to the High Court if unsatisfied. ENDS