SILENCED LOVE

Four months after their controversial courtroom display of affection shocked the nation; suspended prosecutor Keipeile Mantrakis Stoffel (35) is no longer sure whether his relationship with Pearl Tuduetso Montsho is still alive or dead.Mantrakis, who made headlines last year after a disturbing video surfaced on social media, allegedly showing him assaulting Pearl with a stick in front of children, says he has had no contact with the woman who once stood fiercely by his side in court, publicly declaring her love for him despite the country branding him a woman beater.At the height of the scandal, Pearl appeared in court smitten and unapologetic, telling the magistrate that she missed her man dearly and could not wait to embrace him after he spent nights in police cells following his arrest.Her utterances stunned the nation, with many expressing concern that she was trapped in an abusive relationship and needed protection.The video sparked outrage across Botswana and what added salt to injury was that Mantrakis is a prosecutor by profession, sworn to protect vulnerable members of society such as women and children, yet allegedly seen doing the opposite.Despite the public uproar, Pearl flatly refused to cooperate with the police and prosecutors told court at the time that she was unwilling to engage with investigators and argued that she might not have been in the right state of mind.They requested more time, citing fears that Pearl was “too deep” in the situation to see clearly.Mantrakis was eventually granted bail, with strict conditions, amongst them being that he should not contact Pearl.However, on the day he walked free, Pearl appeared in court wearing a bracelet that spelled out her lover’s name.Since that dramatic September appearance, the romance appears to have gone quiet.Speaking this week, Mantrakis confirmed that he has not been in touch with Pearl since his release and does not know where she is.“Ga ke itse gore o kae, kana o khandile ga ke itse,” he said, explaining that his bail conditions prevent him from reaching out, as doing so could land him on the wrong side of the law.Mantrakis was scheduled to appear in court this week, but his case has been postponed to March due to the unavailability of the magistrate handling the matter.He remains suspended from work, pending the finalisation of the case, and is currently focusing on building his defence and raising money for legal fees.

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SILENCED LOVE