Ethiopian sentenced to lengthy imprisonment for rape and kidnapping

Staff Reporter

The Postmasburg Regional Court has sentenced a 35-year-old Ethiopian national, Asanfe Abebiya, to a lengthy prison term following his conviction on multiple charges of rape and kidnapping.

The court handed down the following sentences:

• Count 1 (Rape): 15 years imprisonment
• Count 2 (Rape): 15 years imprisonment
• Count 3 (Kidnapping): 5 years imprisonment

The sentences for Count 2 and Count 3 will run concurrently.

He was declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his name will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The conviction stems from an incident that occurred during the early hours of 5 April 2024 in Postmasburg when 2 victims, aged 22 and 28, returned from a nightclub in Postdene at approximately 02:00.

The victims left the nightclub with the accused persons in a vehicle.

On the way, the 22-year-old victim noticed that the vehicle was travelling in the opposite direction from where they expected to be taken.

The vehicle eventually stopped in an open field in the Stasie area of Postmasburg, away from the surrounding houses.

The victims alighted from the vehicle and continued walking in the direction of their residence.

While they were walking, the same vehicle approached them from another direction and blocked their path.

Both accused persons alighted from the vehicle.

The accused grabbed the 22-year-old victim, pulled her towards a bushy area and raped her.

Meanwhile, the second accused, Tashla Ersulo (45), allegedly grabbed the 28-year-old victim, forced her into the vehicle and drove away.

Abebiya subsequently dragged the first victim further into a bushy area towards rooms where he resided and raped her again inside one of the rooms.

Afterwards, the victim was allowed to leave. She fled the scene and  subsequently reported the matter.

On 7 April 2024, the investigating officer received information that was operationalised that led to the arrest of the accused.

Bail was successfully opposed and the accused remained in custody throughout the court proceedings.

The second accused, Tashla Ersulo, was arrested on 22 April 2024 and was subsequently released on bail.

He later failed to attend court, resulting in a warrant of arrest being issued against him and remains at large.

The ZF Mgcawu District Commissioner, Major General Monica Sebili, applauded the investigating officer, Detective Constable Keamogetse Besson of the Postmasburg FCS Unit, for his dedicated and thorough investigative work, which ultimately contributed to securing the conviction and removing a violent perpetrator from society.

“This conviction demonstrates the importance of professional and diligent investigations in ensuring that perpetrators of serious crimes are held accountable. We commend Detective Constable Besson for his commitment to the investigation and for ensuring that justice is served for the victims,” said Major General Sebili.

The SAPS continues to appeal to members of the community to assist the police with information that could lead to the apprehension of the second accused.