Accused serial rapist Gomolemo Loeto, 36, from Mmathethe has been sent back to prison following an urgent application by the prosecution to add two additional rape cases against him.
Loeto appeared before Extension II Magistrates' Court which was recently informed of two new rape cases registered against the accused after he had been granted bail in the last appearance.
Just when he had met his bail requirements and was set to be free, Investigating Officer (IO) Tiboni Lucas and Prosecutor Peter Mapotsane slapped new charges against him.
“The accused person Loeto met all of his bail conditions as of Thursday (last week) but we are now bringing an urgent application against him that he should not be granted such,” IO Lucas said.
Loeto had been granted bail on the grounds that he should pay cash amounting to P2,000, provide two Batswana sureties who will bind themselves with P1,000 each and surrender his travel documents amongst other conditions.
On the eve of being finally free after six months of incarceration, Loeto was put back into custody last Friday.
“We are making an application to register two new rape cases against the accused where we are requesting that he be put behind bars pending investigations,” he said.
The IO further stated that the courts could only consider granting the accused bail once more after he complies with investigations since he had met all the requirements.
“We are requesting that he be remanded in custody once more pending that he submits his DNA sample so that we can test it against two new victims,” Lucas said.
Magistrate Kaveri Kapeko, who was holding fort for substantive magistrate Keabetswe Majuta, acceded to the state’s pleas.
“The accused person is sent back to prison and the substantive magistrate will come and rule on the issue of bail and him submitting to the DNA,” Kapeko ordered.
Loeto is now facing three counts of rape with the likelihood of taking the total number of charges to 20.
When arraigning Loeto last year, IO Lucas stated that Loeto might be the man they had been looking for in a series of rape cases at Ramotswa looking at the pattern they had been taking place.
The case continues on March 11, 2025.
Just when he had met his bail requirements and was set to be free, Investigating Officer (IO) Tiboni Lucas and Prosecutor Peter Mapotsane slapped new charges against him.
“The accused person Loeto met all of his bail conditions as of Thursday (last week) but we are now bringing an urgent application against him that he should not be granted such,” IO Lucas said.
Loeto had been granted bail on the grounds that he should pay cash amounting to P2,000, provide two Batswana sureties who will bind themselves with P1,000 each and surrender his travel documents amongst other conditions.
On the eve of being finally free after six months of incarceration, Loeto was put back into custody last Friday.
“We are making an application to register two new rape cases against the accused where we are requesting that he be put behind bars pending investigations,” he said.
The IO further stated that the courts could only consider granting the accused bail once more after he complies with investigations since he had met all the requirements.
“We are requesting that he be remanded in custody once more pending that he submits his DNA sample so that we can test it against two new victims,” Lucas said.
Magistrate Kaveri Kapeko, who was holding fort for substantive magistrate Keabetswe Majuta, acceded to the state’s pleas.
“The accused person is sent back to prison and the substantive magistrate will come and rule on the issue of bail and him submitting to the DNA,” Kapeko ordered.
Loeto is now facing three counts of rape with the likelihood of taking the total number of charges to 20.
When arraigning Loeto last year, IO Lucas stated that Loeto might be the man they had been looking for in a series of rape cases at Ramotswa looking at the pattern they had been taking place.
The case continues on March 11, 2025.
