The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A 75-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man has been sentenced to perform 140 hours of community service for fondling the breasts of his 16-year-old maternal niece.
The man from Sitezi Village who cannot be named for ethical reasons pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Nomagugu Ncube last week.
He pleaded not guilty but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment of which two were suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. The remaining four months were further suspended on condition he performs 140 hours of community service at Sitezi Clinic.
“You an elderly person not only in your family but within the community and we don’t expect such behaviour from you. You should be leading by example and be a role model to youngsters. The complainant is old enough to be your grandchild and you should be protecting her not harming her,” said Miss Ncube.
In his defence the old man said he did not commit the offence. He said he found his niece reading books and went on to ask her how she was progressing in her studies. He said he also encouraged her to work hard in order to succeed in her studies and prioritise her education.
Prosecuting, Mr Takudzwa Mafudze said the man committed the offence on 7 July.
“The complainant was reading a book in her mother’s bedroom hut when her uncle walked in and sat on the bed next to her.
The old man started chatting with the juvenile and went on to fondle her breasts.
“The juvenile asked her uncle to stop what he was doing but he refused and continued fondling her. The complainant then fled from the bedroom hut and left her uncle behind. She went on to narrate what had transpired to her mother. The matter was reported to the police resulting in the arrest of the man,” said Mr Mafudze.
In her statement in court the juvenile said her uncle approached her in the bedroom hut and told her that he wanted to see her breasts in order to determine how much she had matured.
She said she refused but her uncle insisted saying that her breasts belonged to him and he went on to fondle her.
@DubeMatutu
