MASERU — A 61-year-old man from Ha-‘Masana, about 35km south of Maseru, will spend the next 30 years behind bars for raping two minor children.
Tšeliso Koetle was sentenced by the Magistrate Court yesterday for raping two girls aged 11 and seven on January 1 at Ha-‘Masana.
Resident magistrate, ‘Manapo Motebele sentenced Koetle to 15 years in prison on each count.
Koetle had pleaded guilty to the charges.
Prosecutor Rulufu Senatla told the court that if Koetle had pleaded not guilty to the charges he would bring evidence that on January 1 the accused had committed sexual offences against the two minors.
He said the two minors were passing next to Koetle’s place when he called them into his house and offered them some food.
After eating Koetle pulled the two onto his bed and sexually abused them.
Senatla said evidence further showed that the girls were recognised by a local villager as they came from Koetle’s place.
Koetle was arrested on Monday by the police from Maseru rural police headquarters.
In mitigation Koetle asked the court to be lenient when imposing sentence against him.
“I am sorry for what I did.
“I am staying alone at my place.
“My children are staying in South Africa with my wife,” he said.
But the resident magistrate said Koetle deserved a stiff sentence.
“You are found guilty as charged.
“You are sentenced to 15 years imprisonment without an option of a fine on count one.
“You are also sentenced to 15 years imprisonment without an option of a fine on count two”.
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