Cape Town - The estranged boyfriend of missing Mitchell’s Plain mother, Raymonde Boltman, who vanished nearly nine years ago while travelling to work, has been arrested and charged with the rape of a relative.
Boltman’s family hopes this development could provide answers about their missing loved one.
Umir Pregnolato was arrested a week ago and is facing a charge of rape.
He is expected back in the dock at the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on February 6, where the State is set to prove Pregnolato allegedly sexually attacked the female relative inside a residence in Woodlands, Mitchell’s Plain.
Boltman’s family said while they had empathy towards the victim, they believe she could be the key to solving the case of their missing sister as well.
Michael Jacobs, chairperson of the Lentegeur Community Policing Forum (CPF), said they would be standing against his bail.
“If there has been an allegation that a female has been sexually assaulted or molested, then we want to send a clear message to perpetrators of gender based violence, that we will oppose bail as a community and that we will ensure that justice will be served,” he said.
Jihan Mohammed, Boltman’s sister who spoke on behalf of the family, said they were hopeful that the latest case could shed light on that of their sister’s.
“As a family, we are sad because of what happened and we feel for the victim, we would not have wanted anything like this to happen to another person,” she said.
“We might not have proof, we know who the main suspects are in the disappearance of my sister.
“The action that he took shows he is capable of raping and murdering.
“This is a breakthrough for Raymonde’s case, if the police ask the right questions. It has been almost nine years, if we can have an answer on what happened, if there is a body, we can have peace.
“She (victim) could assist in solving her own case and ours.”
The victim’s mother, who cannot be identified, confirmed there was a pending case but said they could not comment due to the sensitive nature of the case and that she had to speak with her daughter.
Last year, Boltman’s mother, Lillian Boltman, told the Weekend Argus that she refused to declare her daughter as deceased after requested by police officials.
Lillian, together with her children, called on police to utilise the bag of evidence in their possession to charge and prosecute the man they first questioned and to again explore carrying out a forensic search at his premises where he resides in Mitchell’s Plain.
Police previously carried out a forensic detection at the residence soon after Boltman vanished but were unable to secure a court order to dig up the premises, which is privately owned.
On April 20, 2016, at 5am, Boltman, 23, was escorted to the bus stop at Clock Tower, Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain by her mother and was never seen again. Two years after her disappearance, police searched her estranged boyfriend’s backyard but did not find any new information.
Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, on Sunday said: “Be advised that your query has been forwarded to the relevant station/unit for response.
Based on the extent of your query, it will be best addressed during office hours when the investigating officer is readily available as we need to do some research about the latter part of your enquiry.”