Three prison inmates sentenced to 20 years for sexual assault

The Bulawayo Regional Magistrates’ Court has sentenced three inmates to 20 years imprisonment each for aggravated indecent assault.

In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe revealed that the three inmates aged 30, 24 and 29, on December 29, 2024, at approximately 9pm took advantage of a power outage at Bulawayo Prison, to indecently assault a 20-year-old fellow inmate with who they were sharing a cell.
“The incident began when the first offender, aged 30, approached the victim and asked him to sleep near him, which the victim refused. The first offender then returned with another second offender, aged 24, and both insisted that the victim come to their sleeping space and the victim continued to refuse.
“Subsequently, these two offenders lifted and manhandled the victim to their sleeping area. The offenders forced the victim to lie on his right side, while the third offender, aged 29, covered the victim’s face with a blanket, pressing him down firmly. That was when they took turns to sexually assault the victim without the victim’s consent,” reads the statement.

The victim reported the incident to prison authorities, who referred the matter to the police and the victim was also referred for medical examination.