Toilet rape-accused bar owner in the dock

THE trial of a Bulawayo businessman and bar owner, Owen Zhou, who is accused of raping an employee in a toilet at work, has been remanded to March 21.

Zhou, who operates “The Hub Leisure” in Paddonhurst suburb, is also facing charges of indecent assault and common assault.

The 46-year-old initially appeared in court last month and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Zhou appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza, who remanded him out of custody for the continuation of his trial.

Prosecutor, Mr Dominic Moyo, told the court that Zhou allegedly subjected the 20-year-old (name withheld) to persistent harassment over nearly two months, culminating in the alleged rape in the men’s toilet near the bar counter.

Mr Moyo told the court that the first incident occurred on September 20 last year, when Zhou allegedly indecently assaulted the woman by slapping her on the buttocks while she was at work.

He alleged that Zhou repeatedly committed this act whenever he encountered the woman between September 20 and November 6 last year.

In September, at approximately 1am, Zhou allegedly ambushed the woman when she had gone to the ladies’ toilet, before forcibly dragging her to the men’s toilet, where he compelled her to touch his genitals.

Mr Moyo said Zhou threatened the woman, demanding she comply or risk losing her job. It was then alleged that he forced her to bend over and raped her once. The woman reportedly remained silent out of fear of losing her job.

On a separate occasion, on 6 November, the woman reportedly confronted Zhou regarding unpaid wages, leading to an argument.

Mr Moyo told the court that during the heated exchange, Zhou slapped her twice before grabbing her by the collar and forcibly removing her from the premises.

He said the woman confided in her sister, who accompanied her to report the matter to the police.

The woman was referred to a hospital, where a medical examination was conducted, with the resulting report submitted as evidence in court.

Zhou, represented by Mr Maqhawe Mpofu of Coughlan and Welsh, accused the woman of fabricating the allegations to force him out of his business and extort US$20,000 from him.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr Mpofu also asserted that the woman had spun a web of inconsistencies, making false reports that did not align with her initial allegations.

In her testimony, the woman stated that the police officer handling the case was slow in investigating the matter and that she had not compiled the contents of her warned and cautioned statement.

The woman also claimed that two other employees had witnessed the alleged rape, which prompted her to file a report.