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Africa News afrol News
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Africa News afrol News
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The Teya-Teyaneng police spokesperson, Superintendent Marotholi T'soene, said that his office received a letter from the victim's mother asking the police to withdraw the charge. He however, said that the letter did not show any valid reasons for the withdrawal, but suspected that the suspect might have bribed the mother. He warned that withdrawal of charges would not benefit justice or the victim but would only serve to perpetuate the rampant rate of rape. He said it was wrong for people to take advantage of poverty to escape criminal charges because that would give an option to criminals to avoid charges. He added that bribery and paying for crimes was an obstruction of justice. The mother of the victim confirmed to the reporters that she wrote the letter asking the police to withdraw the rape charge so that the suspect could pay the damages. She said: "he will not be able to pay M1 000 if the suspect is sentenced to jail term." The mother said the other reason for withdrawing the charge was to safe her daughter from the embarrassment of a 'raped girl', especially when she was going to be asked to relate the story publicly in court. The father of the victim said he disagreed with his wife and he did not approve the withdrawal of the charge. "I want to see just taking its course and I am expecting the suspect to appear before the court". - What my wife has done is to obstruct justice, he said. When asked to commend, the principal prosecutor, 'Nena 'Nena, said that the matter was merely between the police and the complainant and therefore would not commend. Women's rights in Lesotho are poorly developed both within national laws and custom under the traditional chieftainship system. A national conference held in March 1998 on the empowerment of women noted that of 100 cases of human rights abuses, 90 percent of the victims were women who were victims of domestic violence, rape, and sexual harassment. Based on an article by Voice
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