A man charged for the rape of his stepson this week told a Molepolole Magistrates court that there was no evidence linking him to the offence.
The 31-year-old man who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the victim, told Magistrate Kaveri Kapeko that the allegations against him were false as he was never causght raping the boy.
“The issue is not true. Had they caught me red-handed, I would admit to the offence. But now there is no evidence and they just suspect that I did it,” he told the court.
The accused, a herdboy who originates from Tidimalo ward in Mokubilo village, is said to have raped his 6-year-old stepson at Masokwane cattlepost in November last year.
The court heard that the accused took the boy from his grandparents without their consent and went with him to the cattlepost where he works.
The concerned grandparents are said to have then sought the intervention of the village chief to get the accused to return the boy home.
The accused who is the father to the boy’s younger sibling, had been in a relationship with his mother who passed on early last year.
It is alleged that the suspect had been sexually abusing the boy and even beating him up whenever he went out to play with others.
More details were revealed when the prosecutor, Sub Inspector Patrick Senatla pleaded for the court to remand the accused, saying despite the matter having been first reported last year it appeared that the sexual abuse had continued as he recently raped him again last week Friday.
“The victim is a minor and we are still trying to locate his grandparents in Mokubilo. The Social Welfare Officer is working on moving the child to a safe place where he can stay permanently. The Investigating officer is engaged in another matter, he will be available in the next sitting to address the court. May the accused be remanded in custody,” pleaded Sub Inspector Senatla.
However, the accused complained that he left his property unattended, including his money that he saved at the cattlepost.
“Ke kopa go fiwa nako go ikiteisa phefo,ba tla mpitsa ka nako e ba ntlhokang (may I be given temporary freedom, they will call me whenever they need me. If I find my things messed up should I ask the police?” asked Kelebonye before he left the dock.
Magistrate Kapeko ordered the prosecution to assist the accused collect his belongings before remanding him in custody till the next mention set for status hearing this week Thursday.
