MOKHOTLONG — Two brothers were last Friday jailed for 10 years each without an option of a fine for raping their 12-year-old niece.
The minor fell pregnant and dropped out of school earlier this year after her teachers suspected that she was pregnant.
She later confessed to the school authorities that she had been raped by her uncles who are aged 25 and 30.
The matter was reported to the police.
The minor told the court that the uncles had sexually molested her since last year while the other uncle began molesting her earlier this year.
The victim, together with her siblings, stays with her paternal grandparents.
Her mother is late while her father works in South African mines.
In mitigation the two brothers said they were both married and looked after aged parents.
The case was before Magistrate Phethisa Motanyane.
The prosecutor, Florence Motoa, urged the court to impose a heavy sentence saying the offence was a serious one. She said the brothers had abused a minor and took advantage of her vulnerability.
In Leribe, an officer with the Lesotho Correctional Services department died last week in what police said was a suspected suicide. Mojapela Mpholle, 26, from Ha Tlai-Tlai in Hlotse allegedly set himself alight after a dispute with his wife.
He is said to have left a suicide note addressed to his parents.
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Superintendent Tsoto Manaka from the Lesotho Correctional Services in Leribe said they were shocked by the death of their colleague.
A police spokesman in Leribe, Superintendent Janki Hlaahla, said they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the LCS officer.
In Thaba-Tseka, the police last week arrested a 28-year-old man who is facing a charge of rape, abduction and assault.
According to a police report, the man together with two other suspects, allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl in 2007. — Lena.