A 37 year old man from Mugute Village in Penhalonga appeared before the Penhalonga Magistrates’ Court facing charges of rape.
According to the allegations, the complainant, a 16-year-old niece of the accused, was called to a vacant kitchen on their homestead in August 2023, and she complied. The complainant was tripped and raped once by the accused, who also threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to anyone.
After three days the complainant’s mother sent the complainant to collect groceries from the accused person’s homestead. Upon arrival the accused person grabbed the complainant’s hand and dragged her to his bedroom and raped her once.
He forewarned her not to share the incident with anyone. The complainant was sexually assaulted twice by the accused in September and again in October of 2023. The complainant was raped by the accused individual in November, January, and February of 2024.
The matter came to light in August when the complainant’s sister visited and noticed that the complainant’s stomach bulging. She asked the complainant who did not disclose the person responsible for the pregnancy until she was confronted by her brother.
The matter was reported to the police and the complainant was medically examined and the results showed that she was pregnant.
The accused person was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment of which 3 years were suspended for 5 years.