TEACHER GETS 30 YEARS FOR RAPING
MLELE District Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a primary
school teacher to 30 years imprisonment for raping and impregnating a
16-year-old pupil.
He will spend 30
years in prison. Passing the judgment on Monday, Magistrate Teotimus Swai the
court had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime.
“The prosecution proved the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt
that you have committed the felony.
The offence you
committed is inhumane and barbaric; I, therefore, sentence you to 32 years in
jail,” said the magistrate. “But, you will serve 30 years in jail as the
sentences will go concurrently. This severe sentence will serve as a deterrent
to wouldbe culprits,” added Swai .
Prosecutor
Inspector of Police, Baraka Hongoli, charged before the court that the convict
had established a sexual relationship with his pupil for quite long time.
“Although the accused had no previous criminal record, I pray to the court to
pass a severe punishment that will serve as a lesson to other wrongdoers,” he
said.
The prosecution
summoned three witnesses, who include the victim’s mother to prove its case
before the court. It was reported in court that the girl had delivered a
premature baby who died shortly after birth. On mitigation, the convict prayed
to court to pass a light sentence because she was a first time offender. It was
not yet clear if the convict will appeal against the ruling.
Meanwhile, the
same court sentenced a resident of Magu District in Mwanza Region, Emmanuel
Martin, (29), to serve 14 months in jail after he pleaded guilty of pretending
to be a security officer.
The convict
appeared for the first time before the Mlele District Court on Monday and
pleaded guilty, saying he committed the offence so that he could afford living
in town. Trial magistrate Teotimus Swai delivered a 14-month jail sentence.
“I pass this
severe sentence so that it also serves a lesson not only to the convict but to
other people with similar habits,” he said.
Prosecutor
Inspector of Police Baraka Hongoli charged that the convict was featuring on
the wanted list for quite long as previous records show that he had committed
similar offences in Magu, Mwanza, Bunda and Mpand
