The Sunday News
Sandra Tekere, Sunday News Reporter
A 60-year-old headmaster from Glen Grey Primary School in Esigodini who was arrested for injuring a pupil’s privates after whipping him for allegedly fighting in the school yard has been slapped with six months in prison.
Despite pleading not guilty to the offence, when he appeared before Esigodini magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube last week, Onwell Chinhara was nailed because medical reports showed that the minor sustained serious injuries.
He was sentenced to six months in prison that were wholly suspended on condition he performs 105 hours of community service.
Prosecuting, Mr Jafta Nyika told the court that Chinhara lost his temper when the boys refuted claims that they were fighting and thought that they were ganging up to shame the prefect who had reported them.
The court heard that Chinhara summoned all pupils to the assembly point and he took a whip and asked the boy to drop his shorts and lie down on the bench facing downwards.
He whipped the minor several times on his back and in the process the boy hit his groin against the bench and sustained swollen testicles.
The court further heard that the minor could not walk properly on his way home. When he got home his mother noticed the unusual gait and he narrated the thrashing to his mother who noticed that his private parts were swollen.
He was taken to hospital leading to the arrest of Chinhara.
The boy’s mother pleaded with the court to ask Chinhara to take care of the medical expenses for her son.
She expressed fears that if he does not get the right treatment, it may cause him problems in future. She said she was afraid he might even be sterile because of the assault.
