A 76-year -old Man of Botshabelo ward in Etsha 6 was arraigned before a Maun Magistrate last Tuesday on allegations of child molestation.
Setshwantsho Mopalo allegedly pounced on a 9-year-old girl between 8 and 9 in the morning when she was on her way back home from playing with her friends in their neighbourhood.
According to court papers, Mopalo who is well known to the child called her when he saw her passing and when the child approached, he reportedly dragged her into his house and raped her.
The court heard that at the time of the incident, the girl’s mother had gone to collect firewood and when she got back home, she met the distressed child who reported that she had been sexually violated. The matter was reported to the police and the girl was taken to the hospital for medical examination and Mopalo was arrested and detained.
Pleading with the court to further remand Mopalo in custody, prosecutor Kefilwe Eddie Senokwane informed the court that the matter was still fresh and that investigations were still at initial stages.
“The victim in this matter is a minor, this is a fresh matter and investigations into the matter have just started,” revealed Senokwane.
Maintaining his innocence, Mopalo readily pleaded not guilty to the rape charge saying that he never had any sexual encounter with the minor.
“I understand what the charge sheet is saying but I do not know anything about the offence I am charged with. I have never had any sexual intercourse with that child,” said Mopalo before he went on to plead for bail citing that he is not a flight risk.
“There is nowhere I can run to; I am pleading for bail because I will not interfere with their investigations,” begged Mopalo.
However Chief Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalo advised that Mopalo’s bail application be discussed at his next mention scheduled for this week, with the investigating officer present, to advance the prosecutions reasons for opposing it.