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Auxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
AN inmate at Khami Medium Prison was yesterday slapped with a 10-year prison sentence for sodomising a fellow inmate.
Atan Ngwenya, 34, who was serving a seven-year jail sentence for theft and robbery, appeared before regional magistrate Crispen James Mberewere facing indecent assault charges.

Ngwenya pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In passing sentence, Mberewere said the courts shared society’s indignation to such acts.

“Our society has consistently frowned upon such abomination like men preferring sex with other men and the courts cannot do worse than acknowledge societal perception.  The courts refuse to acknowledge that it is due to incarceration that you were desperate because you were about to finish your sentence,” said Mberewere.

Ngwenya will serve an effective seven years after three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Prosecuting, Trust Muduma told the court that on November 7 last year at around 3AM, Ngwenya woke up, went into his fellow inmates’ blankets and abused him.

His victim was sent to Mpilo Hospital for treatment.

A medical report produced in court showed that the inmate had bruises on his anus.

In his defence, Ngwenya said his fellow inmate had been sent by his enemies who are also inmates, to fix him.

In mitigation, he told the court that he was a father of two and his wife had since left him after he was incarcerated.

“Your worship, I did not commit this offence. The court must be lenient with me as I am asthmatic and am the bread winner for my children,” he said.