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Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A MAN from Bulawayo who was caught fondling his friend’s five year-old daughter has been jailed for 15 months.

The 44-year old who resides in Sunninghill was caught red handed.

A court heard that he was showing her his phone while placing his hands under her panties and fondling her privates.

The court heard the man had fondled the minor’s privates before and told her they were good.

The man pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault before magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove.

However, he was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.

Ms Mushove sentenced him to 15 months in prison and suspended three months on condition that he does not repeat a similar crime in five years.

He will serve an effective 12 months.

In his defence the man had said he never fondled the child but only lifted her up and put her down.

Prosecuting, Ms Petronila Ngwenya said the man had visited the minor’s home on June 15 this year.

She said he sat outside with the family at their fireplace.

“After a while he pretended to be showing her his phone while caressing her back. The minor’s father saw the act, winked at the minor’s mother who stood up and followed her husband,” he said.

“They set a trap and pretended to leave him with the minor and watched him from the house. The man inserted his hands into her panties and fondled her private parts,” he said.

The court heard that the minor’s mother summoned her into the house and saw that her trousers had dropped.

The minor told her what had happened and they reported the matter to the police.

@MondelaC