A 60-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man was yesterday arraigned before the courts for allegedly raping his landlord’s 12-year-old daughter.

The man, from Nketa 9 suburb, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mr Matthew Mutiro, facing two counts of rape and one of indecent assault. He was remanded in custody to January 20 for commencement of his trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Jethro Mada said sometime in May last year, the man sent the girl to refill his gas tank.

“Upon entering the accused’s room to hand him back his gas tank after refilling it, the accused grabbed the victim and fondled her breasts and the victim managed to escape from his grip,” said Mr Mada.

The court heard that on a different occasion, the accused stormed into the bathroom while the girl was bathing and pushed her to the floor before raping her.

The court heard that sometime in June last year the girl was sent to the man by her brother to ask for a box of matches.

“As she entered the accused’s room, he ordered her to remove her skirt and she refused to comply. He then grabbed the complainant pushed her to the bed and raped her,” said Mr Mada.

The court heard that after committing the alleged offence, the man threatened to assault the complainant if she told anyone about the matter.

A report was then made to the police leading to the man’s arrest.@chronicle