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Career criminal wants credit for pleading guilty

A serial rapist who has completed an anger management course while in jail wants his further sentences to run concurrently with the multiple life terms he is already serving.

The Randburg Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg heard this on Thursday when Jacob Mokoele‚ 33‚ appeared with his lawyer to argue for a lenient sentence.

In May this year‚ Mokoele pleaded guilty to three charges of rape and one of robbery for crimes he committed over a period of three months in 2011‚ when he “randomly” selected and raped three women in Johannesburg.

Defence attorney Rachel Nhlapho said the sentences should run concurrently because Mokoele‚ who is currently also attending an HIV-awareness course‚ has shown remorse for his actions.

But the state argued that the court should hand down the prescribed minimum sentence for Mokoele’s crimes because he is a repeat offender. The law prescribes a minimum of a life sentence for rape if the offender has committed multiple rapes‚ unless the court finds that there are good reasons for a lesser sentence.

Prosecutor Dinesh Nandkissor said a lighter sentence would send the wrong message and might incite vigilantism from communities who feel hard done by by the courts.

Nhlapho argued that her client’s admission of guilt was a compelling circumstance because he had not wasted the court’s time.

Mokoele’s list of past crimes includes rape‚ robbery with aggravating circumstances‚ housebreaking and theft.

He is due to appear in court again on July 16.

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