Rape suspect fails to raise bail money

Pini Bothoko | Tuesday November 28, 2017 16:47

 

The teen, accused of raping his five-year-old cousin, was yesterday further remanded after failing to raise the money for his bail.

The accused was granted bail last month, but failed to pay P5,000 as one of his bail condition.

The alleged rapist, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, stands accused of a single count of rape that allegedly took place at Gabane on November 7.

According to facts before the court, the suspect allegedly committed the heinous act at their home in Gabane, he was residing with the victim.

Representing the State, Tsogo Rantopa told Broadhurst Magistrate, Wame Mosugelo that the accused person is still in custody after failing to lodge the money for his bail.

In the previous mention, Magistrate Gennai Johnson granted the accused person bail on conditions that he should pay the sum of P5,000 and provide two sureties who are blood-related, employed and willing to bind themselves with the sum of P5,000 each.

Then Magistrate Johnson said the two sureties should be Batswana and ordered to provide the court with their permanent residence.

She went on to say that the accused person should not come 100metres near the victim and should not in any way contact the victim.

“I am pleading with the court to further remand the accused person in custody because he has not yet managed to raise funds for his bail.

Investigations on the matter are still ongoing, hence pleading with the court to further remand him in custody,” Rantopa said.

Rantopa told court that the victim in the matter is a minor. He said because of that, they were in the process of engaging social workers at Gabane to interview the victim as prosecution has recently received a court order permitting their assistance.

 The accused person is expected back in court on December 11.