Khama-pardoned ex-prisoner back in jail

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Wednesday August 29, 2012 00:00

Kefithetse, who was charged with a single offence of attempted rape, was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday at the Magistrate Court here.

He attempted to rape a 12-year-old girl at Makubandundo lands near Borolong village on July 9 last year.Senior Magistrate Kgololesego Segabo said Kefithetse conceded that he made a mistake to attempt to rape the little girl and that he wanted to do so because he was angry with the child.

'You admitted that you spent the night with the little girl and wanted to rape her because she had a negative conversation about you with your girlfriend,' said Segabo, 'You said the little girl told your girlfriend that you had an affair with a woman infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and your girlfriend's parents did not want to see you near her'.

Segabo said he was confused at how such a little girl could get into such a conversation, adding that even if she did,  Kefithetse was not supposed to have wanted to punish her that way.'Your behaviour has put the little girl's life in danger because attempting to rape her has left her traumatised,' he said.

The magistrate said in 1990, Kefithetse was convicted of dagga possession and  sentenced to a jail term. In 1991, he committed rape and served time in prison. He was also charged with murder in 2000 and served 13 years in prison for the offence, said Segabo.

He said in view of the nature of the offences he has committed, he is a danger to society because he continues to commit crime. 'I am aware that you have served all your sentences in prison but committing another offence does not show that you have learnt a lesson,' he said.

Segabo noted that Kefithetse wanted to rape the girl whose parents accommodated him. He said the little girl took him as a family member. 'I have taken into consideration your mitigation when passing sentence. But also, I have to look at the security of the society with people like you when passing sentence,' he said.

Meanwhile Segabo said the five year sentence takes into consideration August 13, 2012, the time Kefithetse was remanded in custody. He advised the convict to appeal to the High Court in 14 days, if not satisfied with the sentence.