MBABANE:Assistant Inspector Sotja Magagula, the police officer who made headlines last year after being accused of raping a fifteen(15) year-old child is back at work.
Magagula was allegedly arrested and charged with rape without evidence but mere accusations from the child who recorded a police statement.
But the court subsequently questioned why a doctor’s report was not included as part of the evidence before the arrest of the cop.
It has been disclosed that, the accused cop had a serious work related disagreement with Assistant Inspector Lelo Magagula and, they were staying at the same Simunye Police Camp.
A few days later after the disagreement, Lelo Magagula’s child reported a rape case at the same Police Station and a few minutes later the police, allegedly acting on Inspector Lelo Magagula’s command, threw Inspector Sotja Magagula behind bars without conducting any investigation.
Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Police Spokesperson had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
It has been disclosed that, the mother of the child Inspector Lelo Magagula claimed the child was pregnant and the court said, in the absence of a doctor’s report forming part of evidence, “once the child gives birth, a DNA test must be conducted to ascertain if the accused is the father”.
Worth-noting, cop Inspector Sotja Magagula was arrested in November 2024 and the child has not given birth “or showing signs of being pregnant”.
The defense team suggested that, even if the child could give birth prematurely, the fetus must be tested to ascertain if the accused is the father.
Inspector Sotja Magagula, the son to the late Chief Malamulela Magagula is now back at work but was transferred to Mliba Police Station as the matter is still pending in court.
But the employer appears to be showing signs of being remorseful as the cop has been allowed back to work despite facing the rape charges.
Assitant Inspector Sotja Magagula.