Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
A CHIPINGE monster, who in May held at ransom three siblings – aged nine, 11 and 13 – before sexually abusing them, will spend the next 75 years behind bars.
The incident happened on May 3 in Singizi Village in Chief Mutema’s area.
John Foroma was this week convicted, and sentenced to 75 years in prison by Chipinge regional magistrate, Mr Bichard Chineka, after being found guilty of multiple serious offences, including rape, indecent assault, and robbery. He was convicted on three counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault, and one count of robbery.
Foroma, wielding a knife, stormed into the hut where the three were sleeping, and sexually abused a 13-year-old girl, while forcing the other two boys, aged nine and 11, to suck his privates.
He locked the door from outside, and went to the guardian of the three, and forced her to give her a cellphone in exchange of the release of the three.
He was arrested on Monday this week after the person whom he had sold the cellphone to assisted police with investigations.
He was nabbed at a dumpsite in Chipinge, before confessing committing the crimes.
Mr Isaac Tangwena prosecuted, while Foroma was not legally represented.
He was convicted and sentenced to 75 years’ imprisonment, with five years suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The court heard that Foroma, in May, sneaked into the hut where the juveniles were sleeping, brandishing a knife, and threatened to stab them. He sexually abused the three.
He held the three hostage, and demanded a cellphone from their guardian, who was sleeping in another room, as a precondition for the release of the three children.
The guardian complied, and later reported the incident to the police.
The police tracked the cellphone, and apprehended a man from Mutare who was using it.
The man revealed he had bought the phone from Foroma.
The phone was valued at US$80.
Police conducted further investigations with the phone user’s assistance, leading to the subsequently arrest of Foroma at a Chipinge dumpsite. He admitted to all the charges, leading to his conviction on his own plea of guilty.
