Cousin found guilty of brutal drain acid assault

'I have been left with permanent scars - I suffered facial nerve damage and my eyesight has been affected.'

- SANDI KWON HOO

AN ACCUSED who threw drain acid at his cousin, inflicting facial nerve damage and severe burn wounds to her face and body, has been found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Kimberley magistrate Memory Qomoyi on Wednesday took note of the aggressive behaviour displayed by the accused, Itumeleng Bergman, 4,0 at the time the offence was committed.

The incident took place in Mzimba Street in Galeshewe on August 18 2024, where the accused and the complainant Dora Bergman shared the family residence.

Before the incident, an argument erupted over a blocked toilet where raw sewage was spilling into the yard.

Qomoyi noted that Dora was left with the task of cleaning the mess, while the accused was sleeping inside the house.

"Itumeleng felt aggrieved that he was blamed for causing the spillage. He felt that she was taking out her frustrations on him because customers had not paid her for the alcohol.