18-year-old maid in the dock for abusing Grade One pupil

Tatenda Gapare
A TEENAGE maid was hauled before the courts for allegedly inserting her finger into a Grade One pupil’s privates.
The 18 year-old is employed as a house maid at the victim’s house in one of Bulawayo’s high density suburbs. The victim is six years old. She appeared before magistrate Mrs Sibongile Marondedze and was charged with aggravated indecent assault. Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said from the period of 5 May to 7 August, the maid called the victim to her bedroom when no-one was in the house.

“She called the victim to her bedroom where she then proceeded to remove her clothes and inserted her finger inside the girl‘s private parts,” said Mr Mageza.

It is alleged that the teenager inserted her finger several times. The victim reported the matter to her mother, leading to her arrest.

However, the maid refuted the allegations. She was remanded in custody to tomorrow.
According to statistics, 23 percent of reported cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by individuals under the age of 18. Approximately one-third of offenders are themselves juveniles. It is estimated that women are the abusers in about 14 percent of cases reported among boys and six percent of cases reported among girls.