Man arrested for alleged rape of niece

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Thursday October 4, 2012 00:00

The commander of Letlhakane Police Station, Superintendent Loeto Ramabokwa has said they made the arrest on Independence Day after reports that the uncle found his niece sleeping in the house alone and raped her. 'We were alerted by the village police officers about the incident and went to the village to arrest the suspect who is currently in custody,' he said.

Ramabokwa said that the parents of the 13-year-old girl heard her screaming and reportedly found her uncle sexually abusing her.  'The police came and took them (suspect and victim) and sent the girl for tests at the local clinic to determine,' he said.

Meanwhile Ramabokwa said that at Letlhakane village, a 19-year-old woman from Nkosho ward died on the spot when a car she was traveling in from Mopipi overturned on Saturday.

'They were driving from their uncle's wedding in Mopipi and on their way back around eight in the evening, the accident occurred. They were traveling in a Toyota Ipsum, which had eight passengers, and she was the only one who lost her life while others had minor injuries,' he explained. He said the other seven passengers including the driver, a 44-year-old woman were treated and discharged the same day with minor injuries. 'Amongst them, there was a three-old girl who is currently hospitalised with chest pains at Letlhakane Primary Hospital,' said Ramabokwa. The police are still investigating the cause of the accident. 

On Tuesday, a 45-year-old Zimbabwean was assaulted in Letlhakane by a 19-year-old man who left him with serious injuries. Ramabokwa said they received a report that the victim went out in the morning to search for his goats and passed a certain yard where he had a misunderstanding with a young man who assaulted him on the head.

'He is seriously injured on the head and we suspect that something like a stone was used to harm the victim. He was taken to Letlhakane Primary Hospital which later referred him to Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone for further treatment,' said Ramabokwa. The suspect in the case is on the run.