adminSukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE tout who was accused of impregnating a Grade 7 pupil has escaped maintenance after a paternity test results proved that he is not the father of the baby.
David Rwatiringa (35) yesterday presented paternity test results from the National University of Science and Technology Applied Genetic Testing Centre which stated that he was not the biological father of a nine-month-old baby.
Rwatiringa was dragged to court by his 14-year-old ex- girlfriend demanding money for the upkeep of a baby that she said was his.
The maintenance claim came about a year after Rwatiringa was sentenced to perform community service at the Plumtree magistrate’s court after he pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor.
The 14-year-old claimed that Rwatiringa impregnated her last year when she was in Grade 7 forcing her to drop out of school. Recently, the man was ordered to pay $30 in maintenance pending the paternity results after he had said he was not the father of the juvenile’s child.
Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa dismissed the maintenance application yesterday and ordered the girl’s mother to pay back Rwatiringa the costs he incurred in conducting the paternity tests and money he paid towards the baby’s upkeep.
Rwatiringa said he had paid $90 towards maintaining the child ever since the order was issued three months ago.
He said he had also used about $300 to undergo the paternity test.
Rwatiringa said it was clear that the girl does not know who the father of her child was.
“I have met her several times with different men at local night clubs Your Worship even during the time she was at school,’’ he said.
The girl’s mother, however queried the paternity results which were produced by Rwatiringa and the court advised her to make a formal appeal.
She maintained that Rwatiringa was the father of her grandchild.
Initially, the girl was demanding $100 in maintenance.
The teenager claimed that Rwatiringa initially admitted responsibility of the pregnancy in the presence of her parents but later deserted her after the child was born in a bid to evade paying maintenance.
She alleged that they started having unprotected sex when she was in Grade 6.
Rwatiringa admitted to having sexual intercourse with the teenager but alleged that she was also sleeping around during their relationship.— @DubeMatutu.
Online Reporter