Man sentenced to ten years imprisonment for rape of a female friend
Man sentenced to ten years imprisonment for rape of a female friend
The Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court convicted and sentenced a 38-year-old man from Pienaar to 10 years imprisonment for the rape of his female friend (25). On 25 August 2019, the accused was travelling with a group of known friends including the victim and her boyfriend from Nelspruit to Pienaar. The victim requested the male friend to keep her personal belongings inside his bag for safekeeping.
After she alighted in a taxi, she realised that she had forgotten her bag and went to the accused’s house to trace it. Upon her arrival at the accused house, the accused raped her before giving her the bag. While the victim was trying to escape, she fell outside and injured her leg. She reported the rape ordeal to her friends, who were part of the journey, and her boyfriend. The matter was reported to the police and the accused was subsequently arrested.
In court, he denied the allegation and claimed that the sexual intercourse was consensual. The State Prosecutor, Magda Marais relied on the evidence of the victim, their friends, her boyfriend, and her mother. Medical evidence and the evidence of the arresting officer were also led. The court found their evidence credible, and the accused was found guilty.
In arguing for a firm sentence, the prosecutor argued about the scourge of gender-based violence in society and its impact. The Magistrate, Vanessa Joubert took into consideration the accused’s circumstances, the interest of justice and the seriousness of the offence the accused was convicted of and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.
The NPA will continue to strive for justice for the vulnerable groups in our society.
Issued by,
Monica Nyuswa
NPA Regional Spokesperson
DPP Mpumalanga
013 0450625/ 0764855446