Man (21) gets 3 years in jail for kissing a minor (Grade 1)

A Matabeleland South man, Trust Shoko (21) would learn to keep his lips in check after he was sentenced to three years in jail for kissing a minor.

Shoko was employed as a domestic worker at the minor's homestead. The girl is doing Grade One at Ntunungwe Primary School.

Shoko was convicted on his own plea of guilty when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni facing a charge of aggravated indecent assault.

The magistrate had initially sentenced Shoko to six years in prison but three years were suspended for five years on condition he does not within that period commit a similar offence.

Shoko claimed that evil spirits might have affected him when he committed the offence.

Presenting the state's case, Goodluck Katenaire told the court that on Tuesday at about 9pm, the complainant and her siblings were playing the "hide and seek" game.

The court heard that they were joined by Shoko who when it was his turn and that of the complainant to hide, ordered the other two minors out of the kitchen hut where he was supposed to hide together with the complainant.

Shoko then kissed the girl before lifting a putting her on his lap.

He then made her move back and forth as if they were having sexual intercourse, the court was told.

At that moment, one of the complainant's siblings peeped through the window in anticipation of checking whether the girl and Shoko were hiding, upon which he saw him kissing her.

The boy rushed to inform his father who later reported the matter to the police leading to Shoko's arrest.