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Abel Zhakata Senior Court Reporter—
AN 80-year-old Rusape man who was caught red-handed by his wife bedding a 14-year-old neighbour has been slapped with a three-year jail term by a regional magistrate.
Initially the octogenarian, Phillip Chandiramba, was charged with rape, but the charge was altered after the court found out that the intimacy was consensual.
He was subsequently found guilty of contravening Section 70 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Chandiramba will have to thank his advanced age after Mr Livingstone Chipadza wholly suspended the three-year sentence in respect of his age.
He was warned not to commit any crime involving sexual abuse in the next five years.
District public prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, said Chandiramba and the complainant are neighbours at Romsbly Village 11C.
Allegations were that on September 29 last year, Chandiramba went to the complainant’s homestead and found her in the company of her brother.
“He entered the hut and was asked about his intentions and replied that he wanted to play with the girl. The two talked for a while resulting in the girl falling asleep together with her brother.
“The accused person went on to put out the fire and went to sleep with the complainant. He got into her blankets and was intimate with the minor in the presence of the brother who was asleep in the same room,” said Mr Mutyasira.
He spent the whole night there and left early in the morning. The complainant did not reveal the incident to anyone.
The following month on a date unknown to the prosecution, but at around 6pm, Chandiramba visited the complainant again.
He used the same modus operandi, but luck ran out when his wife made a follow up and found her with the girl.
His wife got enraged and she heavily assaulted the complainant for sleeping with her husband.
Following the assault the girl revealed everything. A police was made resulting in Chandiramba’s arrest.
Online Reporter