- Serial rape suspect faces additional robbery charge
Languishing in jail since his most recent arrest for rape in July, a suspected serial sex offender’s handcuffs were temporarily loosened on Tuesday as he was hauled before Francistown Magistrates Court.
Facing three separate rape charges, 33-year-old Nonofang Radidery this time found himself accused of robbery having allegedly forcibly taken a cell phone worth P1, 500 from his latest victim.
He is accused of pouncing on a 48-year-old woman near the bushes on the banks of the Tati River as she walked into town from Molopa Estates on the evening of 15 June. After allegedly satisfying his sexual desires, he is said to have made off with the lady’s phone.
She immediately reported her ordeal to Kutlwano Police, with the cops eventually tracking Radidery down to his home in Kgapamadi a few weeks later.
He was arraigned in July and denied bail after it emerged he has two pending rape cases before court.
Locked up ever since, Radidery returned to court this week after drawn-out police investigations saw the robbery charge leveled against him.
The accused rapist unsuccessfully requested to be freed, an attempt that was not helped by his failure to expand on why his wish should be granted.
“With regards to the issue of bail, you were previously denied bail and advised to apply for bail at the High Court,” noted Senior Magistrate Thapelo Buang.
Radidery will remain remanded in custody until 13 December when he is due back in court for Initial Case Management.