A 55-year-old North West man has been slapped with a 20-year jail sentence for sexually violating his 6-year-old niece.
The Tlhabane regional court in the North West also declared Lebogela Motswadi unfit to possess a firearm. It further ordered for his name to be included in the register of sexual offenders.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame said that the conviction follows a incident that occurred on January 1, 2018.
It took place just after midnight at a home in Phokeng village, where the family was celebrating New Year’s Eve.
“The mother of the 6-year-old noticed that her child was not in the company of her cousins where they were playing together.
“She subsequently went to the back of the house to look for the child, and she found her next to the uncle, looking frightened.
“Upon enquiring why she was frightened, she told her mother that the uncle kissed her and inserted his finger in her private parts,” Mamothame said.
It is reported that the 6-year-old girl was taken for medical examination, and the matter was reported to the police.
Investigation and arrest
Mamothame said that the accused was arrested two days later and granted bail.
“He then failed to appear in court and a warrant of his arrest was issued. He was re-arrested and remanded in police custody until the completion of trial. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
“It was discovered during investigations that he had two previous convictions of rape that occurred in 1988 and 1999.”
Magistrate Segakweng Moeng said given the accused’s age and severity of the case, a 20-year jail term was suitable.
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