adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A MAN who took advantage of a mentally challenged woman’s condition and had sex with her before giving her $5 to buy her silence, was sold out by a pack of jiggies which the woman bought with the money. Desmond Phiri, 33, of Madumabisa Village in Hwange, pleaded not guilty to having sex with a mentally challenged person when he appeared before Hwange magistrate Dambudzo Malunga.
Phiri, a casual worker at Hwange Truck Stop, claimed he wasn’t aware of the woman’s condition. “It’s my first time to hear that she’s mentally challenged,” said Phiri in his defence.
His testimony was disputed by a neighbour, Precious Sibanda, in whose custody the woman had been left by her family.
Sibanda told the court: “I was shocked to see her distributing jiggies.
“She later revealed that she had been given $5 by Phiri after having sex with him. He’s lying that it’s his first time to hear that she’s mentally ill because he was once married to her relative and he knows her pretty well.”
Malunga sentenced Phiri to 15 years in jail.
He will, however, serve an effective 13 years after two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting Tawanda Sigauke said the sex attack took place on December 16 last year.
“Phiri invited the complainant to his place of residence and proposed love to her,” he said.
The court heard the woman agreed and the two set an appointment for him to visit at night.
“At night Phiri went to the woman’s home and sneaked into her bedroom where he asked to have sex with her and she agreed.
He gave her $5 to buy her silence.
“The complainant bought a packet of assorted jiggies with the money,” said the prosecutor.
The matter came to light when the complainant’s sister saw her carrying a plastic bag full of jiggies which she was distributing to passersby.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo