Pheneus Kgomo (19) and Lesiba Merchanson Molokomme (31) convicted of kidnapping and raping an educator in 2018 received a hefty sentence of life imprisonment plus 47 years by the Lephalale Regional Court on Friday.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe said that both convicts are from the Villa Nora Policing area outside Lephalale and were convicted on counts of kidnapping, rape, housebreaking and theft, theft and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Molokomme was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape while his co-accused was given 20 years. Both were given five years for kidnapping and seven years for theft. Kgomo was further sentenced to an additional six and 15 years imprisonment respectively on charges of housebreaking and theft and robbery with aggravating circumstances, Ngoepe indicated.
This follows an incident on 23 November 2018 when Kgomo broke into the victim’s rented house in a village outside Marken while she was asleep and tied her up with a rope. He then raped her and afterwards robbed her of her bank cards before loading her into the boot of her Volkswagen Polo. He drove to his co-accused’s place and proceeded to a nearby shopping complex to withdraw the victim’s money, Ngoepe said.
The victim was later found dumped along a road in the area and immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police were notified and started with investigations and a manhunt for the suspects.
The suspects were later on the same day arrested at different locations around Lephalale. Molokomme was found in possession of the victim’s car keys. The vehicle was later found abandoned in the bushes near Marken.
It was also learnt that the suspects took turns raping the victim.
Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba applauded the investigating officer for working on the case responsively and securing the hefty sentences.
Story: RC Myburgh
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