Convicted rapist arrested in Free State after 12 years on the run
A community member blew the whistle on a fugitive who sneaked back into Tseseng Village more than a decade after fleeing his court sentencing.
An escaped rapist who evaded sentencing for more than a decade has finally been arrested after returning to his home village.
Bloemfontein Courant reports that according to Free State police spokesperson Mmako Mophiring, Kenneth Lepota was convicted of rape alongside two co-accused in 2014 but failed to appear in court for sentencing. He remained on the run for 12 years.
One of his co-accused, Morena Mokoena, is currently serving a life sentence for the rape, while the third accused died before sentencing.
The case dates back to April 2011, when a woman from Tseseng Village was walking home around midnight. Mophiring said the three men dragged her into nearby bushes and raped her. The victim was able to identify all three perpetrators, leading to their arrest, prosecution and conviction in the Tseseng Magistrate’s Court in 2014.
“The accused were released on bail pending sentencing. Before sentencing could take place, one of the accused passed away. Morena Mokoena was later sentenced to life imprisonment, while Kenneth Lepota absconded and remained in hiding after failing to appear in court,” said Mophiring.
Police continued searching for Lepota over the years. On Friday (July 3), a community member recognised him after he returned to the village and alerted the investigating officer. Police arrested him.
Lepota is expected to appear in the Tseseng Magistrate’s Court today (July 7) for sentencing following his rape conviction.
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Read original story on www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za
