Two thieves who broke into Palapye Islamic mosque were recently each given six lashes on bare buttocks after pleading guilty to their crimes.
According to evidence brought before Kgosi Masego Olebile of Palapye, Tiroyamodimo Maramane, 25 and his accomplice Phenyo Elias, 20 broke into the mosque sometime in January and stole an extension power cable, a vacuum cleaner, two kettles, five towels, a 20 litre bucket and a floor mat all worth P3980.00.
Acting on a tip off, the police found the stolen cable at one Khumo Khumo’s house in Serorome ward who told them he had bought it from Maramane.
“When questioned, Maramane confessed that he broke into the mosque and stole the items with his friend Elias. They further assisted the police to collect all the items from the people who had bought them,” stated the prosecutor, Sergeant Thabano.
Faced with a maximum of seven years in jail, the young criminals pleaded with the court to give them five strokes of the cane instead. “Please whip me instead, I won’t do it again. I have my grandmother and younger sibling to take care of,” said Maramane.
Elias also asked to be lashed. “Just beat us up and let us go. We can clean the temple for the duration of the sentence. I have to go to school at VTC soon,” he said.
Lenient Kgosi Masego listened to their pleas and chastised them before adding one more stroke to the five they had asked for. He said; “It’s very bad to steal from a house of worship and it will bring you bad luck. Regardless of the language or faith, it is a house of worship and our country is founded on faith.”
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