News / National
War veteran jailed 10 years for raping niece
3 hrs ago |
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A retired senior soldier and war veteran, Harry Mangani, has been sentenced to an effective 10 years in prison after being convicted of raping his teenage niece a decade ago.
Mutare regional magistrate Sekai Chiwundura handed down the sentence last week after finding the 68-year-old guilty of raping the complainant in 2016 when she was 18 years old.
Mangani denied the allegations throughout the trial, claiming that he had been involved in a consensual relationship with the complainant, whose identity has been withheld for legal and ethical reasons.
However, the court rejected his defence, ruling that the retired soldier had abused his position of trust and taken advantage of a vulnerable orphan who was living under his care and protection.
The court heard that Mangani, who was 58 at the time of the offence, sexually assaulted the complainant at his homestead where they lived together.
Prosecutor George Nyatsuro told the court that the offence occurred in June 2016 after Mangani allegedly entered the complainant's bedroom while she was asleep.
According to evidence presented during the trial, the complainant remained silent for several years because of intimidation and fear.
The matter only came to light last year after the complainant sought advice from close associates before filing a report at Harare Central Police Station.
Mutare regional magistrate Sekai Chiwundura handed down the sentence last week after finding the 68-year-old guilty of raping the complainant in 2016 when she was 18 years old.
Mangani denied the allegations throughout the trial, claiming that he had been involved in a consensual relationship with the complainant, whose identity has been withheld for legal and ethical reasons.
However, the court rejected his defence, ruling that the retired soldier had abused his position of trust and taken advantage of a vulnerable orphan who was living under his care and protection.
The court heard that Mangani, who was 58 at the time of the offence, sexually assaulted the complainant at his homestead where they lived together.
Prosecutor George Nyatsuro told the court that the offence occurred in June 2016 after Mangani allegedly entered the complainant's bedroom while she was asleep.
According to evidence presented during the trial, the complainant remained silent for several years because of intimidation and fear.
The matter only came to light last year after the complainant sought advice from close associates before filing a report at Harare Central Police Station.
Source - The Standard
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