MASERU — A man who approached two women who were walking to church and demanded to have sex with them was on Monday sentenced to three and half years in jail.
Magistrate ‘Makopano Taole sentenced Tšokolo Matamane to prison after finding him guilty of common assault and contravening section 3 (2) of the Sexual Offences Act No.3 of 2003.
Matamane, 33, from Makhoakhoeng in Maseru, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for fondling one of the two complainants with the intention of committing a sexual act with her.
He was granted an option to pay a fine of M1 800.
On the second charge, the accused was sentenced to two years in prison or an option to pay a M2 000 fine after he was convicted of assaulting the other woman and trying to rape her.
Magistrate Taole ordered that the sentences should run consecutively.
According to the prosecution, the two women were at Ha Matala on March 4 on their way to church when Matamane pounced.
Matamane told the women that he wanted to have sex with them.
He then grabbed the first complainant by the waist, touching her buttocks while demanding to have sexual intercourse with her.
However, the woman managed to escape and Matamane then turned to the other woman.
“In the same vein the accused told her that he wanted to have sex with her,” the court heard.
He grabbed her by the hair and threw her on the ground during which a struggle ensued as the woman shouted for help.
One of the villagers who came to her rescue managed to identify Matamane.
The complainants proceeded to Lithoteng police post to report the incident.
The prosecution said, had Matamane pleaded not guilty, it would have called the evidence of Constable Sefali who is attached to Lithoteng police.
He would show that on March 4, while on duty the two complainants arrived and made a report after which he carried out investigations leading to Matamane’s arrest.
In mitigation Matamane apologised profusely for what he did.
He said he was under the influence of alcohol adding he was ready to compensate the complainants.
But the complainants turned the offer down, insisting that the law must take its course.
