Councillor in court for defilement

ACCUSED OF DEFILEMENT: Shanakane

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Councillor for Medie/Kweneng, Edwin Shanakane, last Monday appeared before Molepolole Magistrates’ Court charged with defilement.

Shanakane, 37, appeared before Chief Magistrate Goabaone Rammapudi-Lesedi, accused of defiling a 16-year-old Form 4 schoolgirl.

State prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Uyapo Koketso, told the court that some exhibits have been sent for testing of evidence at the forensic laboratory while others were sent to Botswana Telecommunications Corporation for verification.

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Kweneng District Officer Commanding No.11, Senior Superintendent Modise Gabatshwane, said the case was reported to the police on September 16th, 2021.

“After we received the report, we continued with our investigations. We worked on it and we took the matter before court,” he explained.

It is alleged that Councillor Shanakane got the girl’s cellphone number sometime early this year when he gave her a lift to Lentsweletau.

The girl is said to have confirmed to the police that she had a love relationship with the councillor and that they had even had sexual intercourse several times.

However, Councillor Shanakane, who was reportedly detained and later released, has allegedly denied having sex with the girl when questioned by the police.

The matter was reported to the police after the concerned victim confided in her parents about the relationship, who in turn reported to the police.

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Councillor Shanakane briefly told this publication that he did not know anything about the matter.

Kweneng District Council Chairperson, Motlhophi Leo, said no action has been taken against the councillor yet since the matter is before the court.

She said they would have to wait for the court to make its final decision before they can act.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Gabatshwane revealed that they have over 100 cases of defilement and that they receive three or four such reports daily.

Defilement carries a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum term of life imprisonment.

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Councillor Shanakane will appear for mention on December 9th.

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