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Midlands Reporter
A Midlands State University laboratory technician who raped his teenage neighbour was yesterday sentenced to 18 years in jail.
Brian Ntabeni, 49, of House Number 4495, Mkoba Village 17 who pleaded not guilty was however convicted by regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire of raping the 18-year-old girl due to overwhelming evidence.
Ntabeni will serve an effective 15 years in prison after three years of the sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

It is the State’s case that on August 11 last year, Ntabeni called the girl’s father and told him that there were going to be interviews at Midlands State University to fill up vacancies in the hotel and catering division. He told the father to inform his daughter to submit her curriculum vitae since she had the right qualifications.

The court heard that Ntabeni called the teenager’s mother telling her to notify her daughter that she should report to the university on August 23, 2013 for an interview.

The complainant proceeded to MSU and went to Ntabeni’s office who later escorted her to the Hotel and Catering Head of Department’s office for the interview.
After the interview, the girl was told to go back to Ntabeni’s office since he was waiting for her.

The court heard that upon the girl’s arrival, Ntabeni locked the door. When the girl confronted him, demanding to know why he was locking the door, he told her there was something he wanted both of them to do for two minutes before leaving.

Ntabeni then tripped the teenager, covered her mouth with his dreadlocks to muffle her screams and raped her once without protection.