A 13-year-old boy from Plumtree, Matabeleland South, has been handed a 15-year prison sentence for aggravated indecent a$sault, a verdict that has prompted an appeal from his family.
Currently held at Bulawayo Prison, the boy’s identity remains confidential due to his age.
His mother, residing in South Africa, has provided details about the case.
She explained that her son was staying with his aunt when the incident occurred.
During the April school holidays, a caretaker’s seven-year-old child visited their home, where several boys, including the accused, slept in one room.
According to the mother, her son had been exposed to inappropriate content at soccer practice, where senior players showed him p0rn0graphy.
He later described and demonstrated this content to the seven-year-old, CITE reports.
The young child informed his mother, who initially dismissed the incident as childish mischief. However, the child’s father suspected more serious wrongdoing and reported the case to the police.
Initially, the police did not pursue the case, citing the minors’ ages. Both boys underwent medical checks and counseling, leading to the case being dropped.
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However, the situation took a turn when the case was unexpectedly revived and brought to court in Gwanda.
The mother was informed about the court proceedings only a day before the hearing. On August 7, the police reminded the family of the court date. The mother of the seven-year-old did not attend, but the boy’s aunt did. The court proceedings reportedly involved pressure tactics on the accused, leading to a harsh sentence of 15 years.
The boy was briefly held in Plumtree Prison before being transferred to Bulawayo. His mother expressed her shock at the severity of the sentence, questioning how a 13-year-old could receive such a lengthy term. She criticized the lack of legal representation during the trial and has had to sell a cow to afford a lawyer for an appeal.
Stanley Chinyanganya, the boy’s lawyer, confirmed that the charge was aggravated indecent as$ault, specifically alleging that the boy engaged in anal s3xual intercourse with the seven-year-old.
Chinyanganya noted that the boy did not have legal representation at the trial and has since filed for a review of the magistrate’s decision. A bail application is also planned to seek the boy’s release while the appeal is processed.
The family is now seeking assistance to continue their fight against what they view as an unjust sentence.
