Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE taxi driver accused of fondling two girls aged 13 and 15 has been discharged after the State failed to find incriminating evidence against him. Honest Ndlovu, 33, of Lake View area was accused of taking the girls who were in the company of their 13-year-old cousin to a nightclub in the border town where he allegedly spent several hours fondling them.

The State withdrew the matter after plea after failing to prove its case against Ndlovu.

In making submissions at the close of the State case, Prosecutor Clemence Shawarira said the testimonies by the two witnesses which were made on camera were not credible as they were contradictory.

He said the evidence which had been brought before the court had failed to prove that Ndlovu had committed the offence.

Shawarira submitted that the State was withdrawing the charges against Ndlovu after plea due to lack of incriminating evidence.

In the facts that were presented in court, Shawarira had said Ndlovu fondled the two juveniles on June 8.

Ndlovu allegedly met the three girls, who are from Ngwanyana area, while they were on their way to Madabe Clinic in Mangwe. He allegedly offered them a lift and promised to collect them later. Instead of taking them back to their home, he proceeded with them to Plumtree Town, the court heard.

“On June 8 the three juveniles were seated in Ndlovu’s car outside Dumms Palace and Restaurant. Two of the juveniles both aged 13, proceeded to the toilet leaving the 15-year-old in the car with Ndlovu.

“Ndlovu lifted the complainant’s clothes and removed his own trousers before fondling the girl’s thighs but she kept moving away. He tried to forcibly part the juvenile’s thighs but her cousins returned,” he said.

Shawarira said Ndlovu tried to remove the skirt of one of the two juveniles aged 13 but he stopped after a police officer arrived at the scene and apprehended him.

Ndlovu, who is married, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault when he appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philmon.

He told the court that he only bought food for the three girls. Ndlovu also revealed that he had proposed love to one of the girls after the girl claimed to be 18-years-old.

He said the police officer who arrested him had threatened to fix him prior to fabricating allegations of indecent assault against him.

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