A 26-year-old man was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape of a mentally challenged woman.
Moenop Pullen was sentenced in the New Law Courts Regional Court for the 2013 rape of the woman, who was 19 at the time.
According to Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg of the SAPS: “On Sunday, 13 January 2013 at about 6.30pm, the 19-year-old victim, who is mentally challenged, was with her 10-year-old sister at Moodley Grounds, Kleinskool, Port Elizabeth, fetching cattle. On their way back home they were approached by the accused, Moenop Pullen, who grabbed the victim and threw stones at the younger child forcing her to run away. "The accused took the victim to an abandoned building where he raped her. The younger sister alerted her parents and with the assistance from the South African Police Service they found the victim as she was on her way home.
"The accused, who is known to the victim, was arrested and charged for rape. The accused appeared in court and was released on bail. Today, Pullen was sentenced to life imprisonment,” said Janse van Rensburg on Wednesday.
Major General Thembisile Patekile, cluster commander for Mount Road cluster, said: “We commend our FCS Unit [Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit] and the justice system for their sterling and collaborative effort in bringing this ruthless perpetrator to book.
"This conviction will serve as a deterrent to potential rapists and the SAPS through its FCS units ensures that sentences such as this will bring justice to the victims of these crimes.”..