Mwenezi farmer acquitted of indecent assault

Zimbabwe Bio Energy (ZBE) ranch in Mwenezi was recently acquitted of all the 33 counts of indecent assault after the State failed to prove its case.
In his judgement after the trial that was held in camera owing to the ages of some of the complainants, Masvingo magistrate Mr Timeon Makunde ruled that there was no evidence that Naylor abused the boys.
He was accused of stroking and sucking the boys’ private parts in return for money and gifts.
Naylor, who was represented by Mr Charles Ndlovu of Ndlovu and Hwacha told the court that he never abused the boys or took photographs of them while they were naked.
He argued that there were a lot of unanswered questions, especially considering that the complainants only reported the alleged offence after some time and not voluntarily.
Mr Ndlovu argued that it was clear judging by the time a report was made against Naylor and the inconsistencies in the testimony by the complainants that they might have not reported voluntarily.
Prosecutor Ms Sofia Bhusvumani had told the court that Naylor had sometime between 2009 and August last year, picked the boys aged between 11and 16 years, at different times and drove them to various places.
Naylor was alleged to have taken the boys to such places as the Lion and Elephant Hotel near Rutenga, crocodile breeding ponds and his own house where he would allegedly abuse them.
Naylor was also alleged to have paid the boys amounts between US$10 to US$20 at each of the occasions and had also allegedly promised to buy them bicycles.
He had also allegedly promised to teach them how to drive.
He was arrested after one of the boys reported the abuse to his parents who then made a report to the police.