News / National
Cop (32) sentenced to six years in prison for sodomising friend (22)
12 Mar 2013 at 19:18hrs | Views
A 32-year-old policeman stationed at Tomlinson Depot has been sentenced to six years in prison after he was convicted of aggravated indecent assault.
Taruvinga Chadenga pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted after a full trial.
Two years of his sentence were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
In passing sentence regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa said Chadenga as a police officer was supposed to uphold the law.
Mr Mupeiwa said through this heinous act Chadenga hampered the dignity of his 22-year-old friend whom he sodomised.
"The accused person actually caused the complainant a serious psychological trauma. He is supposed to uphold the law and ordinary people should seek refuge from him.
" A sentence of a fine will not reflect the seriousness of the accused's actions and community service will not be able to convey the necessary deterrent message which needs to be sent to the community. A custodial sentence will be justifiable in the circumstances," he said.
On January 22 this year Chadenga went to his friend's workplace in the city centre intending to buy ox-blood shoe polish.
The shoe polish was, however, out of stock and the complainant offered to give Chadenga the one he had at home.
Chadenga went to the complainant's house in Budiriro the following day to collect the shoe polish and since they were friends he decided to spend a night there.
Around 4am the following morning, the complainant awoke to find Chadenga forcing himself on him.
The complainant informed other tenants at the house and a report was made to the police leading to Chadenga's arrest.
Taruvinga Chadenga pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted after a full trial.
Two years of his sentence were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
In passing sentence regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa said Chadenga as a police officer was supposed to uphold the law.
Mr Mupeiwa said through this heinous act Chadenga hampered the dignity of his 22-year-old friend whom he sodomised.
"The accused person actually caused the complainant a serious psychological trauma. He is supposed to uphold the law and ordinary people should seek refuge from him.
" A sentence of a fine will not reflect the seriousness of the accused's actions and community service will not be able to convey the necessary deterrent message which needs to be sent to the community. A custodial sentence will be justifiable in the circumstances," he said.
On January 22 this year Chadenga went to his friend's workplace in the city centre intending to buy ox-blood shoe polish.
The shoe polish was, however, out of stock and the complainant offered to give Chadenga the one he had at home.
Chadenga went to the complainant's house in Budiriro the following day to collect the shoe polish and since they were friends he decided to spend a night there.
Around 4am the following morning, the complainant awoke to find Chadenga forcing himself on him.
The complainant informed other tenants at the house and a report was made to the police leading to Chadenga's arrest.
Source - Court
