Free State court gives Lesotho national life sentence for raping pregnant woman

A Lesotho national has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a pregnant woman last year.

Ramokone Tsoeu, 23, was sentenced in the Ladybrand Regional Court on Monday.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Martin Xuma said Tsoeu befriended his 22-year-old victim while she was walking to her home in Lipelaneng, near Hobhouse, in the Free State.    

“He walked the victim up until a hiking spot where she was going to get a lift to her home.  While he was standing with her at the hiking spot, the accused forcefully dragged the heavily pregnant woman to a nearby quarry and started raping her,” he said.

He tied her to a tree and left. She managed to untie herself during the night, walked home and told her brother what had happened. Tsoeu was arrested several days later.  

Free State Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabethe Mpembe, welcomed the sentencing.

Source: News24