News / Local
Rape accused policeman goes free
08 Dec 2015 at 05:24hrs | Views
A POLICE officer based at Tshabalala Police Station in Bulawayo who was accused of raping his three nieces, has been acquitted.
Paul Haisosvi, 55, who has been on remand since September last year, burst into tears when senior regional magistrate Tranos Utahwashe said the State had failed to prove its case.
"The first complaint said she was fondled but did not scream or inform anyone of the matter since she was sleeping next to her siblings. The fact that she was fondled does not mean she was raped. The act amounts to indecent assault," said magistrate Utahwashe.
"Both the second and third complainants said they were raped by Haisosvi but they did not report immediately after the incidents. They did not scream or fight him and the testimonies given by the girls weakened the State case".
Haisosvi, represented by lawyer Costa Dube, lived with the girls aged 11, 14 and 17 in a room which was divided by a curtain. He had pleaded not guilty to all three counts and had been granted $100 bail on his initial remand. Prosecuting, Robin Mukura said Haisosvi allegedly raped his nieces between 2012 and March 2014.
"Haisosvi stayed with his nieces who are children to his wife's siblings. He had sex with all of them without their consent. On different dates unknown to the state at ZRP Tshabalala Police Station, Haisosvi had sex with his nieces," said Mukura.
"The 14-year-old was raped in a car which was parked outside his house while others were in the house." Haisosvi said the children were fabricating the stories.
"These are spirits that are following me. Whoever is doing this is very good at his work. I didn't sleep with any of these girls but I helped them, sheltered them and gave them food and this is how they thank me," he said.
"We stayed in a one-roomed house and how could I possibly rape them. I slept with my wife while they slept on the floor. How could I leave my wife on the bed and rape them on the floor in the same room?"
Paul Haisosvi, 55, who has been on remand since September last year, burst into tears when senior regional magistrate Tranos Utahwashe said the State had failed to prove its case.
"The first complaint said she was fondled but did not scream or inform anyone of the matter since she was sleeping next to her siblings. The fact that she was fondled does not mean she was raped. The act amounts to indecent assault," said magistrate Utahwashe.
"Both the second and third complainants said they were raped by Haisosvi but they did not report immediately after the incidents. They did not scream or fight him and the testimonies given by the girls weakened the State case".
"Haisosvi stayed with his nieces who are children to his wife's siblings. He had sex with all of them without their consent. On different dates unknown to the state at ZRP Tshabalala Police Station, Haisosvi had sex with his nieces," said Mukura.
"The 14-year-old was raped in a car which was parked outside his house while others were in the house." Haisosvi said the children were fabricating the stories.
"These are spirits that are following me. Whoever is doing this is very good at his work. I didn't sleep with any of these girls but I helped them, sheltered them and gave them food and this is how they thank me," he said.
"We stayed in a one-roomed house and how could I possibly rape them. I slept with my wife while they slept on the floor. How could I leave my wife on the bed and rape them on the floor in the same room?"
Source - chronicle
