adminNobuhle Nyoni Sunday News Correspondent
AN interpreter at Lupane magistrates courts has been acquitted of indecent assault charges levelled against him by his 16-year-old maid. Isaac Siakwiye (45) was acquitted when he appeared before magistrate for Western Division Mrs Dambudzo Malunga at Hwange Court facing indecent assault charges.
The prosecutor, Mr Tawanda Sigauke, told the court that on a date unknown to the prosecutor but in the month of March 2006 the accused took advantage of his wife’s absence and invited the accused to watch pornography with him in the living room.
The accused reportedly dragged the complainant, who is now 24, to the bedroom after watching the video and reportedly had sexual intercourse with her once and told her not to report the matter to anyone.
On another day but in the same month of March, the accused sent his wife to Lupane Business Centre and forcibly entered the bathroom while the complainant was bathing, pushed her to the floor and allegedly raped her.
Siakwiye is alleged to have promised the complainant 7 000 Zimbabwean dollars on condition she did not report the matter to anyone.
The matter came to light when she was giving evidence on indecent assault charges she had levelled against the accused where she revealed that the accused had not only indecently assaulted her but had raped her.
The magistrate discovered that she was pregnant and questioned her on who was responsible for her pregnancy to which she divulged that it was her boyfriend, Sixwayiso Donga.
She told the court that if the accused had paid her the money she would not have had him arrested.
In his defence, Siakwiye noted that Alex Mthimkhulu, a former Clerk of Court, who was facing indecent assault charges against the complainant, persuaded her to drop the charges against him and implicate Siakwiye.
He said the rape charges were a way of fixing him as Mthimkhulu had a long-standing grudge with him.
In passing judgment, the magistrate noted that there were a number of inconsistencies in the evidence given by the complainant leading to her acquitting Siakwiye.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo