Man charged with sodomising friend

A KWEKWE man yesterday appeared in court accused of sodomising a friend he had offered accommodation on the pretext that he was too drunk.

Benjamin Hove of Redcliff, employed by Chaka Plant Mine in Kwekwe, was not asked to plead to sodomy when he briefly appeared before Gokwe provincial magistrate Shepherd Mjanja. He was remanded in custody to February 13 and advised to apply to the High Court for bail. Hove denied the charges and told the court that the complainant had consented.

Prosecutor Rumbidzai Katsande told the court that on Saturday, Hove and the complainant were drinking at a night spot in Amaveni suburb. Hove allegedly bought the complainant a lot of beer until around 2:50am.

When the complainant got drunk he reportedly told Hove that he could not continue drinking and wanted to go home. Hove is alleged to have offered to drive him home, but along the way when the complainant fell asleep, he reportedly diverted the route and parked at a secluded place.

He allegedly dragged the complainant out of the vehicle and took him to a nearby incomplete building where he sodomised him. Hove is said to have abandoned the complainant at the scene.

A report was made to the police, leading to Hove's arrest.