Hillcrest sexual assault suspect linked to Francistown case

Pini Bothoko | Thursday July 6, 2017 21:18

 

The alleged Hillcrest sexual assault came to light after a letter purportedly written by the upmarket school went viral on social media earlier this week. 

In the letter, a school director apparently informs parents that an assault has taken place perpetrated by a teacher.  The director attempts to assure parents that the school is taking all precautionary measures to ensure that their children are safe. 

Mmegi investigations suggest that the teacher involved in the Hillcrest matter has already been charged for a 2014 assault of a then 11-year-old mentally ill girl in Francistown. 

In that separate case, the man, whose name is known to Mmegi, is set to appear in court in October in the continuation of the case. 

Yesterday, Broadhurst police told Mmegi that an investigation into the matter was ongoing and the suspect has not been charged yet. Preliminary indications, however, are that the teacher has a case to answer before investigators. 

“It is reported that on June 28, 2017, the teacher instructed the student to follow him to his office to collect her report, after he had given other learners their reports during a lesson,” a Broadhurst investigator told Mmegi on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to talk to the Press. 

“On her arrival, it is alleged that the teacher instructed the learner to close the office door and he then fondled and sexual assaulted the learner.

“Afterwards he gave her a gold medal and when she asked what it was for, he told the student to keep it for herself and not to tell anyone about what transpired in his office.

“We have since collected as much information as possible and we are confident that the suspect will soon appear before court.”

In the Francistown case, at the Magistrates Court, witnesses said the victim had been waylaid while on her way from church at night.  The suspect is alleged to have offered the victim a lift, but instead drove to Gerald Estates where he raped the mentally ill 11-year-old through the night.

Sources close to the Francistown matter confirmed that the suspect in the case was working in Gaborone for a private institution.