adminLindani Dube Hwange Court Correspondent
A POLYGAMOUS Binga man began serving a 10-year jail sentence yesterday after he was convicted of raping his 11-year-old stepdaughter twice.
Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga described as cruel and heinous a crime for Agson Muleya, 46, who has three wives, to prey on the innocent child and sexually abuse her.
Muleya of Kenjobo village pleaded not guilty to the charge but the magistrate convicted him and slapped him with a 12-year prison sentence of which two years were conditionally suspended for five years.
“You had three wives and weren’t sexually starved. It was cruel and traumatic to the victim who told the court of her experience,” Malunga said.
It emerged during proceedings that Muleya was on the run from September 2013 to April this year when the long arm of the law finally caught up with him.
“You also didn’t take court proceedings seriously as you defaulted from court for a year and eight-months before you were re-arrested,” said Malunga.
“As a stepfather you were entrusted with her but you abused the trust. The court will continue to protect young children from people like you through stiff sentences.”
Prosecuting, Charlene Gorerino told how on June 18, 2010 the victim was left in Muleya’s custody when her mother was away.
“She and Muleya shared the same bedroom hut. While they slept he sneaked into her blankets and forcibly removed her clothing and raped her once,” said Gorerino.
She said on June 26, the girl was again left in the company of Muleya when her mother was away.
“As they slept he sneaked into her blankets and raped her once.
“On July 4, in the same year the girl informed her mother of stomach and back pains and that she had a bad discharge,” said Gorerino.
She said the girl’s mother examined her daughter and immediately took her to the clinic for treatment.
Muleya was represented by Tonderai Mukuku of Mukuku and Marondedze.
derick.khumalo