Online Reporter
Freedom Mupanedemo, [email protected]
A 33-YEAR-OLD Zvishavane domestic worker has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of aggravated indecent assault on an eight-year-old girl he encountered while she was on her way home.
Appearing before Zvishavane regional magistrate Mr Tavengwa Sangster on one count of aggravated indecent assault was Amon Berejena, from Berejena Village under Chief Berejena in Chivi.
Berejena, who was employed as a domestic worker at a farm in Zvishavane, was convicted despite pleading not guilty to the charge.
Mr Sangster imposed a 15-year custodial sentence, noting that the judiciary had a crucial responsibility in protecting the girl child from sexual abuse.
Prosecutor Ms Melissa Makombe told the court that the complainant is a juvenile from Chief Mafala area in Zvishavane, and that the accused and the child are not related.
“On February 12, the accused met the complainant in a bush who was picking up some small stones, which she wanted to use as counters,” said Ms Makombe.
The court heard that the child greeted Berejena, who then asked where she lived. After she pointed out the direction, he took the bucket of stones she was carrying and walked alongside her.
“The accused sat down and removed some stones from the bucket and asked the complainant to sit down and count her stones,” she said.
Ms Makombe said that while the child was counting, Berejena pulled her onto his lap, lifted her dress and inserted his finger into her private parts.
The matter came to light when the complainant returned home and immediately informed her mother about what had happened.
On February 13, a police report was made, and the girl was subsequently medically examined by a doctor, leading to Berejena’s arrest.
