adminNine years for raping a 12-year-old girl
10 years for raping a nine-year-old girl
10 years for raping an 11-year-old girl
One-year for fondling a girl’s private parts
Zvikomborero Parafini
A SERIAL rapist has been condemned to 42 years in prison after being convicted of raping SIX minors in his Dzivaresekwa neighbourhood.
Simon Ben was convicted after a full trial by Harare magistrate Clever Tsikwa.
He was sentenced to nine years on the first count of raping a 13-year-old girl.
He was jailed another nine years for raping a 12-year-old, 10 years for raping a nine-year-old girl, another 10 years for raping an 11-year-old and one year for fondling a 10-year-old girl’s private parts.
Six years were suspended on condition that he doesn’t repeat the offence in the next five years, while one year will run concurrently with the others, leaving him with an effective 36-year jail term.
He was facing 10 counts of various sexual offences ranging from rape, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault.
He was convicted on five counts of rape and one count of indecent assault.
According to the State, Ben would call his neighbours’ children and make them watch pornography before raping them or fondling their private parts.
Giving reasons for the sentence, magistrate Tsikwa said Ben betrayed the trust his neighbours had for him.
“You took advantage of the fact that these were young children that would come to you to watch movies on your laptop.
“You deflowered all of them and showed that you have no respect for the girl child and showed how selfish you are.
“The offence is aggravated because these are young children and you were in good relations with their parents who trusted you, but you abused their children.
“If this court was to follow sentencing, as in numerous cases, 100 years would have been ideal given that 20 years would have sufficed per count.
“However, I will moderate the sentence,” said magistrate Tsikwa.
Parents in the courtroom appeared relieved as Ben was taken out of the courtroom on his way to start serving his lengthy sentence.
Online Reporter