News / National
Statutory rapist Sengu to do community service
01 Sep 2011 at 19:26hrs | Views
CAPS United Football Club defender David "Maketo" Sengu yesterday escaped a custodial sentence after he was ordered to perform 525 hours of community service for bedding his under-age lover.
Sengu (26) had pleaded guilty to statutory rape when he appeared before Mbare magistrate Mrs Patience Ururu-Madondo.
Sengu, who was brought to court in khakhi prison garb and leg irons, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment of which 15 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
A further 15 months were suspended on condition he completes 525 hours of community service at Machipisa Police Station.
This means Sengu will be providing free labour at the police station for 17 weeks.
Before passing sentence, Mrs Ururu-Madondo had asked Sengu if he was still in love with the minor in question who has now turned 16 and what his intentions were.
Sengu said he was still in love with the girl and he wanted to marry her.
"Has she turned 16 or he is still committing an offence?" the magistrate asked the prosecutor.
The State confirmed that the girl had indeed turned 16.
In passing sentence, the magistrate said she considered that Sengu was a first offender.
"He pleaded guilty thereby saving the court's time, he is also a youthful offender who is not yet married against this background however, accused committed an offence of a serious nature.
"The legislature crafted this offence in order to protect young girls from exploitation and this court is alive to that fact," she said.
She said a fine would trivialise the offence and imprisonment would be too harsh on Sengu.
"Accused is not yet married and is looking forward to marrying the girl. I considered community service as the appropriate punishment," she said.
The agreed facts are that on November 9 last year Sengu proposed love to the 15-year-old girl and she agreed a month later.
Sometime during the same month Sengu went to the girl's residence and picked her up. He slept with the girl three times until January this year.
The offence came to light after the girl's mother, who was based in South Africa, came back home and heard that her daughter was having an affair.
The girl's mother asked her about the issue. The minor revealed that she was in an intimate love affair with Sengu.
Sengu (26) had pleaded guilty to statutory rape when he appeared before Mbare magistrate Mrs Patience Ururu-Madondo.
Sengu, who was brought to court in khakhi prison garb and leg irons, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment of which 15 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
A further 15 months were suspended on condition he completes 525 hours of community service at Machipisa Police Station.
This means Sengu will be providing free labour at the police station for 17 weeks.
Before passing sentence, Mrs Ururu-Madondo had asked Sengu if he was still in love with the minor in question who has now turned 16 and what his intentions were.
Sengu said he was still in love with the girl and he wanted to marry her.
"Has she turned 16 or he is still committing an offence?" the magistrate asked the prosecutor.
The State confirmed that the girl had indeed turned 16.
In passing sentence, the magistrate said she considered that Sengu was a first offender.
"He pleaded guilty thereby saving the court's time, he is also a youthful offender who is not yet married against this background however, accused committed an offence of a serious nature.
"The legislature crafted this offence in order to protect young girls from exploitation and this court is alive to that fact," she said.
She said a fine would trivialise the offence and imprisonment would be too harsh on Sengu.
"Accused is not yet married and is looking forward to marrying the girl. I considered community service as the appropriate punishment," she said.
The agreed facts are that on November 9 last year Sengu proposed love to the 15-year-old girl and she agreed a month later.
Sometime during the same month Sengu went to the girl's residence and picked her up. He slept with the girl three times until January this year.
The offence came to light after the girl's mother, who was based in South Africa, came back home and heard that her daughter was having an affair.
The girl's mother asked her about the issue. The minor revealed that she was in an intimate love affair with Sengu.
Source - TH
