Brighton Masuku
Thandeka Moyo, Court Reporter
AN 18-year-old Insuza man who sodomised a herdboy in a grazing area after threatening to assault him with a switch has been jailed for 12 years.
Brighton Masuku yesterday pleaded not guilty to aggravated indecent assault before regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere. He told the court he was a lonely and quiet person.
Mberewere however convicted him of the crime, bemoaning the increase in the incidence of sexual abuse cases countrywide.
“The State managed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt thus accused is found guilty as charged. He is therefore sentenced to 12 years imprisonment of which four years are suspended on condition of good behaviour,” said Mberewere.
Prosecutor Simbarashe Manyiwa said Masuku met his victim, 16, at a grazing area on May 22 last year, around 4PM.
“The two were herding cattle and Masuku started threatening the boy. He told the boy to comply with his demands if he didn’t want to be assaulted as he could easily use switches to beat him,” said Manyiwa.
“Masuku ordered the boy to remove his pair of trousers. He went on to force the boy to bend down and balance with his hands on the ground.”
The court heard that Masuku sodomised the teen once.
“Masuku went away and ordered the boy to keep the matter to himself. The matter came to light when the boy’s grandmother noticed that he was having difficulties sitting. He revealed that Masuku had sodomised him,” said Manyiwa.
The boy was taken to hospital and a police report was made leading to Masuku’s arrest.