•Boyfriend remains in custody
Tears of joy flowed freely down the cheeks of a mother who was accused of raping her minor daughter when the police withdrew the charges against her on Tuesday.
Oseabotseng Maselo, 28, secured her freedom because police did not have enough evidence to link her to the crime.
Maselo appeared before Lobatse Magistrates Court this week, side by side with her live-in boyfriend, Tumelo Tlouetsile, 35, who is accused of jointly raping Maselo’s firstborn child at their home in Nhlanhle village.
The incident, which was being investigated by Woodhall Police Station, allegedly took place on October 8th.
Both suspects were arrested the next day and have been in prison ever since.
Although they could not produce evidence against her, the police were at pains to withdraw the charges, telling court they intend to slap her with a different charge at a later date.
Pleading for her freedom, Maselo told the court she had three other children she had hastily left with a neighbor when she was arrested.
In between sobs Maselo said, “I left my children with my next-door neighbor and it has been weeks. I plead with you to let me go and I will not interfere with investigations.”
However, her partner was not so lucky.
Tlouetsile’s impassioned plea for liberty, citing he was innocent until proven guilty and that he was not a flight risk, failed to move the Magistrate, who further extended his remand in prison.
Meanwhile, the court also heard that the state was to yet find a safe house for the abused minor child.
The case continues on 17 November.
