Bloemfontein - A suspected serial rapist is set to appear in a Bloemfontein court after he was linked to a series of attacks which took place between there and Thaba`Nchu, police said on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Thabo Litabe said the rape incidents took place between July 2011 and March 2014.
“The first incident came under police’s attention in Bloemfontein while Warrant Officer Kgosithebe Simon Digetse from Mangaung Family violence, Child protection and Sexual Offences was on standby duties and responded to a call where a 22 year old woman was raped near Ramkraal Railway line in Bloemfontein,” Litabe said.
Litabe said the woman was walking alone near the railway line on Friday 31 August 2012, at about 7:15pm, when she met a man who allegedly hit her with an unknown object at the back of her head after which she fell down and became unconscious.
“While on the ground, the man raped and robbed her of her cellphone. Immediately after the incident, a police patrol vehicle drove past near the scene and the victim stopped and informed them of her ordeal.”
The 37-year-old suspect tried to run away but the police managed to catch him and recover the victim’s cellphone.
Litabe said the suspect’s blood was drawn and sent for sampling at the police’s Forensic Science Laboratory, and he was positively linked to the crime.
“The case then went for trial but was withdrawn after the victim failed to attend court proceedings and the suspect was released.”
A while after the suspect was released, the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Dikgetse, received two letters from the Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria that linked the suspect to more cases that were reported at the Bloemspruit, Thaba`Nchu, and Selosesha police stations, Litabe said.
“Some of them had already been closed as undetected as the suspect was unknown to the victims and he could not be linked.”
In almost all the cases, the same modus operandi was used by the suspect as he preyed on the unsuspecting victims who were between the ages of 13 and 22 years.
“The cases were reopened and a new search for the suspect was initiated, and he was traced to Thaba`Nchu where he was arrested and appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate court on Friday 19 June 2015.”
He was charged with six counts of rape and he is due to appear again on Monday 29 June.
“The arrest of this man should serve as a deterrent to those who believe that they cannot be traced. The long arm of the law will always prevail and we will not hesitate to arrest those who think that they are untraceable….” said Lieutenant General Thabethe Mpembe, the Provincial Commissioner of Free State SAPS.
Mpembe said it was important for victims to remember that their failure to attend court proceedings resulted in cases being withdrawn, with the suspects then being released for them to go on and commit more atrocities against innocent people.
ANA