Rapist would lure minors with soft drinks and food
Maphole Koloti
The Modimolle Regional Court has slapped a 33-year-old rapist with three life sentences for raping three minor children.
Tinos Chimeze, originally from Zimbabwe, was convicted of all three charges and sentenced to three life terms for raping the minor victims aged 8,9 and 11 in 2022.
The state said that the rapist would lure the victims to his residence by offering them soft drinks and food. He would then proceeded to rape them in each other’s presence.
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The state said he also took them to a social worker where he claimed to be their guardian and therefore needed food. But after conducting interviews with the victims, the social worker conclude that they had all been raped and informed the police.
Medical evidence confirmed that the victims had indeed been sexually abused.
Chimeze pleaded not guilty and alleged that the victims only went to his house to view his woodwork and he offered them food. The court rejected the rapist’s version and convicted him on the three counts of rape.
In aggravation of sentence, Regional Court Prosecutor, Mokhobedi Desiree Tlhoaela, submitted that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances to justify deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment for each count.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga, said that the NPA was committed to dealing with the scourge of rape by ensuring that perpetrators were brought to book and appropriately sentenced.
This in turn would deter would-be offenders. She further congratulated prosecutor Tlhoaela, CPO Tshifhiwa Tshaumbela, and Sgt Tukakgomo for their sterling work.
