Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara [email protected]
AN 18-year-old Bulawayo will spend 15 years in prison for committing two counts of rape involving two minors aged seven and eight.
Gift Lwandile Mdlongwa of New Magwegwe suburb, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira facing two counts of rape and was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
“While the sentences total 30 years, the magistrate ordered them to run concurrently, meaning he will serve an effective 15-year term,” said Mr Dzira.
Prosecuting, Mr Jethro Mada told the court that the first incident occurred on June 7 last year at around 7:30 PM. The first complainant, a seven-year-old girl, was allegedly intercepted by the accused while she was going to an outside toilet.
“When she was about to enter the toilet, the accused person approached her, closed her mouth with his hands, and lifted her up. He took her to the back of his place of residence where he removed her clothes and raped her,” said Mr Mada.
The court heard that the girl’s cries forced the accused to flee the scene. The victim reported the matter to her grandmother, who then alerted the police.
Regarding the second count, the court heard that on an unknown date in June last year, the accused person was at the residence of an eight-year-old girl and requested that she escort him to his home.
The minor complied, but upon arrival, the accused allegedly took her into a toilet and forced her to bend down.
“The accused then had anal sexual intercourse with the complainant without her consent. Due to the pain, she screamed and the accused ran away,” he said.
The complainant later disclosed the ordeal to her grandmother, leading to the arrest of the accused person. Medical reports for both victims were produced in court as exhibits.
Ends CKD PN//
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