Missing girl case does not add up

OHRIGSTAD – An 18-year-old girl of Maepa Village who went missing on October12 was found last Friday.

Sgt Justice Mantshwane, spokesman for the local police, said the allegations made by the girl did not add up. Among others, she claimed that, after running errands in the town, she boarded a taxi home but it drove in the direction of Praktiseer and Driekop. Legal and moral restrictions prohibit this newspaper from identifying the girl or her alleged abductors.

The girl claimed to have been kept in a house unwillingly and raped continuously by the several suspects before being released in Burgersfort after which she phoned her mother. “Nothing in the rape kit report supported these claims. If and when the alleged suspects are taken into custody DNA testing will be conducted with the forensics collected,” said Mantshwane.

According to him the girl was not exactly sure where she was detained. “A description of the vehicle and alleged suspects were given.”

Steelburger/Lydenburg news contacted NWU (North-West University) criminal/penal code expert, Renè Koraan. “Falsely accused victims should wait for the case against them to be withdrawn or after being found not guilty after which they can seek advice on how to open a crimin injuria or defamation claim. If they succeed with the claim they can set their conditions.This can be in the form of financial compensation, a public apology or anything they require to restore their dignity or financial loss due to legal expenses,” advised Koraan.

“The case is being investigated and we are following every lead,” Mantshwane concluded.