72-year-old man exonerated of indecent assault charges for lack of evidence

The co-tenants have shared residence for over a decade

A 72-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man who was accused of indecently assaulting his neighbour’s 15-year-old daughter has been discharged at the close of the State’s case due to lack of evidence linking him to the alleged offence.
Yusuf Osman from Pumula North suburb was allegedly to have indecently assaulted the juvenile in September last year.
In acquitting the accused, Western Commonage magistrate Mr Mehluli Moyo said there were inconsistencies in the testimony of the two complainants.
“After hearing the testimonies by the complainants, the court noted that there is a lack of evidence linking the accused to the rape and indecent assault. Accordingly, he is found not guilty and acquitted,” ruled the magistrate.
Prosecuting, Ms Mandrela Chisiiwa told the court that the alleged assaults occurred repeatedly between September last year and January this year.
The alleged incidents began when the teenage girl visited Yusuf’s home where her friend resides.
“On an unknown date in September 2024, during the daytime, the accused called the complainant into his house. He then convinced her to allow him to fondle her breasts and touch her buttocks,” said Ms Kufandikanwe.
The court heard that Yusuf allegedly exploited the girl’s visits to her friend, turning what should have been innocent interactions into a pattern of abuse.
“Each time the complainant came to see her friend at the accused’s residence, he would take advantage of her presence and indecently assault her,” said Ms Kufandikanwe.
The court heard that the assaults continued unchecked for months, with the teenager initially too frightened or confused to speak out.
The matter came to light under distressing circumstances. In January 2025, the girl went missing, prompting her frantic parents to file a missing person report with the police. After an anxious search, she returned home, and upon being quizzed on her whereabouts by her parents, she narrated her ordeal.
“The complainant disclosed that she had been at Yusuf’s residence. She revealed that he had been sexually assaulting her from September 2024 until January this year,” said Ms Kufandikanwe. A report was made to the police, leading to Yusuf’s arrest.
In his defence Yusuf said this was a fabricated story as he was dating the complainant’s grandmother.
“I was in a relationship with the complainant’s grandmother, so they have fabricated this story as a way of getting back to me.
“As for the complainant I know her since she was three years old and there is no way I could do that to someone who grew up around me,” said Yusuf