Detective Constable Boipolelo Polelo of the Prieska Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit secured the conviction and sentencing of 25-year-old Justin Papier to 18 years of direct imprisonment for rape.
Detective Constable Polelo was assigned to investigate a rape case reported at the Prieska Police Station in April 2024.
According to court evidence, the victim visited the accused at a farm in Prieska on the evening of Thursday, 11 April 2024, to ask for tobacco. Upon arrival, she found the accused inside the house. He instructed her to fetch the tobacco from near the television set while he locked the door. He then pulled the victim toward him, pushed her to the floor, produced a knife, and threatened to stab her if she resisted. The accused then raped her. The victim managed to flee after the assault.
The incident was reported to the police, and the suspect was subsequently arrested.
During court proceedings, it emerged that this was not the first incident in which the accused had raped the victim. He was linked to another rape incident against the same victim and was ultimately convicted on two counts of rape.
The court sentenced Papier to 18 years of direct imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.