The North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane welcomed a life and 18 years imprisonment sentence handed down to Simon Albert Malaka (24) by the Brits Regional Court last week where the accused was found guilty on charges of rape, kidnapping and robbery.
Malaka’s sentencing came after he was found guilty for raping, kidnapping and robbing a 21 year old woman in May 2015. It was disclosed during the trial that the victim was walking from Brits to Oukasie informal settlement when Malaka approached and threatened her with a screwdriver. He then dragged her under the bridge where he raped her. The accused raped the victim again along the railway line.
It was reported that Malaka then forced the victim to go with him to his residential place where he also raped her. The victim screamed for help and the accused’s sister came in an attempt to rescue her.
However, the accused dragged the victim to the bushes and walked towards Letlhabile where the victim was raped in the bushes. The accused then tied the victim with a rope and took her cellphone and a purse containing bank cards. The victim managed to untie herself and went to Letlhabile police station to report the matter.
Following a thorough investigation, the accused was found hiding at Rabokala village and was arrested on Wednesday, 17 February 2016. He was denied bail and has been in custody until his sentencing.
Malaka was sentenced as follows: Life imprisonment for three counts of rape, 15 years imprisonment for kidnapping and three years imprisonment for robbery.
The Provincial Commissioner lauded the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Legwale and everyone who contributed towards attainment of the conviction. She said that those who commit crimes against women and children will be shown no mercy.
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