Staff Reporter
A 37-year-old Bangladeshi national is expected to appear in the Bethlehem Magistrates Court tomorrow facing a charge of raping a minor.
The man, who operates a tuck shop in Bohlokong, was arrested on Tuesday after the mother of a four-year-old girl reported that her child had allegedly been raped by the suspect.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the mother of the girl saw her acting strangely and pressed her to explain.
“. . . she remained quiet and later confided to her aunt that the suspect had sexual intercourse with her,” Makhele in a statement.
“Police were called and the suspect was arrested as a result. He will appear in the Bethlehem court on a charge of rape,” said the police spokesperson.
However, upon hearing about the incident, angry community members took to the streets to protest.
The residents threw stones at a police van that had picked up the suspect demanding that he be handed over to them.
They went on to attack his tuck shop and looted goods worth thousands of rands.
Police are now investigating a case of malicious damage to state property, business burglary and public violence.
Free State Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane welcomed the arrest of the suspect but warned people not to take the law into their own hands.
“Rape is a serious offence and even more serious where the victim is a child,” she said.
“Raping a child is as good as killing that child’s dreams and taking her pride and future away.”
And turning to the violent attacks, Motswenyane warned: “Taking the law into one’s hands has never been a solution. Instead it makes matters worse as it is crime on its own.”
Meanwhile, police in Petrusburg are looking for a man who allegedly raped a 28-year-old woman at Bolokanang location on Sunday night.
Police say the man and the complainant were at a friend’s place when the incident allegedly happened at about 9:30pm.
The woman is said to have gone out of the house to relieve herself when the accused allegedly followed her.
The suspect, according to the police, took the woman by surprise and grabbed her from behind before assaulting her with open hands.
He allegedly pushed her to the ground as the attack became more brutal.
The woman tried to fight back but was overpowered and raped by the suspect.
He then threatened to kill the woman if she told her friend.
The woman then went into the house and reported the matter to the police the following day.
The suspect has not been home since the incident occurred and none of his relatives have seen him either.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect should contact Petrusburg Police on 0535749918 or the Station Commander Captain Mathetsa on 0824676084.
