MALAMULELE – An eighteen-year-old man, Khazamula Baldwin Chauke of Muchipisi Village, will spend the next fifteen years in jail for indecent assault and robbery. The case was finalised in the Malamulele Regional Court last Friday.

The incident took place at Mapapila village on June 20 this year at about 17:30. The court heard that on the day of the incident the victim was on her way home from the nearby Mapapila shop when the incident took place. The victim is a 10-year-old girl who resides at Mapapila village.

The court further heard that the victim met the accused along the way. The accused was going in the opposite direction. The accused grabbed the victim by the hand and threatened her with death if she did not accompany him to the surrounding bushes.

It was testified that on arrival in the bushes the accused sodomised the girl. He also robbed her of R6. The matter was reported to the police shortly after the incident and the accused was arrested the following day.

He was sentenced to ten years in jail for indecent assault and another five years for robbery, without any option of a fine. The accused was a Grade 11 pupil at Mbhanyele High School.

In the statement that was released by the Lowveld police this week, they indicated that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to people who have no respect for children.