A chilling case of alleged sexual abuse has shaken the Pumula South high density in Bulawayo, with a 25-year-old man appearing in the Western Commonage Regional Court on charges of sodomising his 13-year-old nephew.
The accused, whose identity is being withheld to protect the victim, allegedly committed the heinous act on July 25th.
The matter came to light when the young victim confided in his aunt, the accused’s sister-in-law. The aunt, horrified by the revelation, immediately reported the incident to the police, leading to the man’s arrest.
In court, the accused pleaded not guilty, claiming that the allegations were fabricated by his sister-in-law due to her unrequited advances towards him. He alleged that she had concocted the story as revenge for his rejection of her sexual advances, even going so far as to deny the boy food to coerce him into making false accusations.
However, the young victim stood firm in his account of the incident, providing a detailed description of the ordeal and the subsequent physical discomfort he experienced. A medical report corroborated the boy’s statement, confirming the presence of anal bruising.
The aunt vehemently denied the accused’s claims, asserting that she had no romantic interest in him. She described the devastating impact the alleged sodomy had on her nephew, including behavioural changes and a loss of appetite.
Police investigations revealed that the accused had attempted to evade arrest following the incident, but was apprehended in Colleen Bawn. The investigating officer testified that he observed signs of trauma in the victim during the reporting process.
Regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mnkandla adjourned the case to August 22nd for sentencing. The court will now weigh the evidence presented and determine the accused’s fate.
