Online Reporter
Musawenkosi Moyo
A 72-YEAR-OLD man from Pumula North suburb in Bulawayo has appeared in court facing charges of allegedly indecently assaulting his neighbour’s 15-year-old granddaughter.
Osman Yusuf appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Learner Khumalo.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to 17 March 2025, for continuation of trial.
In his defence, Yusuf told the court he had no knowledge of the charges brought against him.
He claimed that the complainant’s grandmother was framing him because he had ended their relationship due to her ill-treatment of her granddaughter.
He told the court he has known the complainant since she was three-years-old and saw her as his own granddaughter, therefore he would never harm her.
The allegations levelled against Yusuf are that sometime in September 2024, in Pumula North, during the day, the complainant was visiting her friend at Yusuf’s house when he called her over and began fondling her breasts and touching her buttocks repeatedly.
It was heard that from that time until January 2025, Yusuf would indecently assault the complainant whenever she visited her friend.
The matter came to light sometime in January 2025 when the minor girl went missing, and her parents reported her as a missing person.
After a report was made, the complainant returned home and, upon being questioned about her whereabouts, revealed that she had been at Yusuf’s residence and that he had been indecently assaulting her since September 2024.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest.
