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Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A NKAYI herdboy has been slapped with a 12 year jail term for sodomising a teenager he met while looking for wild fruits. Emmanuel Luphahla did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated indecent assault before senior regional magistrate Tranos Utahwashe. Passing his sentence, magistrate Utahwashe bemoaned the increase in sexual violence cases countrywide.

“The only mitigatory element of this case is that accused is a youthful first offender who pleaded guilty. ‘‘However aggravated indecent assault is a very serious crime and only imprisonment will meet the requirements of justice,” said magistrate Utahwashe.

“Accused is therefore sentenced to 12 years imprisonment of which two years are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. Effectively he will serve 10 years.”

Prosecuting, Robin Mukura, told the court that Luphahla met his victim on April 13 this year near a bushy area in Nkayi around 3PM. “The boy was looking for wild fruits with his friend and Luphahla stopped them asking if they could help him carry a wounded beast back home.

‘‘Luphahla ordered the boy’s friend to go back home and he remained with his victim,” said Mukura.

Luphahla then started walking towards the direction of his homestead situated in Mtshayibumba village.

“Along the way he ordered the boy to stop and forced him to lie on the ground facing downwards.

‘‘Luphahla removed his pair of shorts and mounted on the boy undressing him in the process,” he said.

Mukura said Luphahla then had anal sex with the boy once and later disappeared.

“The boy screamed for help and his friend who had been dismissed by Luphahla heard him and located him.

‘‘The boy narrated what had happened and the two proceeded to make a report,” he said.