Swakopmund man gets 15 years in jail for rape

A SWAKOPMUND resident who was accused of raping a ten-year-old girl in his home after using the promise of sweets to lure her there has been sentenced to a 15-year prison term at the end of his trial in the Swakopmund Regional Court.

In his trial before Magistrate Dinnah Usiku, Festus Kashona (29) was accused of raping the girl at his house at Mondesa on July 17 last year. Magistrate Usiku found Kashona, who denied the charge, guilty last week, and concluded the trial by sentencing him to the minimum sentence prescribed by the Combating of Rape Act for this sort of rape of a child under the age of 13- 15 years’ imprisonment.According to testimony heard during the trial, Kashona, who used to work as a seaman, lived across the street from the girl.Before the incident that landed him in the dock took place, he had on a number of occasions sent the girl and her younger sister to buy some berries or sweets.On the day of the incident the same thing happened, but this time Kashona sent only the smaller girl to buy some berries, the court heard.As her sister went off on that shopping errand, the ten-year-old stayed behind at Kashona’s house.The girl told the court that Kashona took her into his bedroom, where he put her on the bed.He then told her to undress, but she did not want to do that, the court heard.He then undressed her, also took off his own clothes, and raped her, the court was told.He threatened he would kill her if she told anyone about this event, so the girl kept quiet at first.When her mother wanted to send her to Kashona’s house a few days later, though, she refused to go there and made a first report of the incident to her mother, the court heard.The girl also claimed that Kashona had previously tried to kiss her on her mouth, and that she used to turn her head away to prevent him from doing that.According to a report on a medical examination of the girl that was done after she had made the report to her mother, her private parts appeared swollen, and her hymen was no longer intact.Kashona handled his own defence during the trial.Public Prosecutor Tania Tait conducted the prosecution.Magistrate Usiku found Kashona, who denied the charge, guilty last week, and concluded the trial by sentencing him to the minimum sentence prescribed by the Combating of Rape Act for this sort of rape of a child under the age of 13- 15 years’ imprisonment.According to testimony heard during the trial, Kashona, who used to work as a seaman, lived across the street from the girl.Before the incident that landed him in the dock took place, he had on a number of occasions sent the girl and her younger sister to buy some berries or sweets.On the day of the incident the same thing happened, but this time Kashona sent only the smaller girl to buy some berries, the court heard.As her sister went off on that shopping errand, the ten-year-old stayed behind at Kashona’s house.The girl told the court that Kashona took her into his bedroom, where he put her on the bed.He then told her to undress, but she did not want to do that, the court heard.He then undressed her, also took off his own clothes, and raped her, the court was told.He threatened he would kill her if she told anyone about this event, so the girl kept quiet at first.When her mother wanted to send her to Kashona’s house a few days later, though, she refused to go there and made a first report of the incident to her mother, the court heard.The girl also claimed that Kashona had previously tried to kiss her on her mouth, and that she used to turn her head away to prevent him from doing that.According to a report on a medical examination of the girl that was done after she had made the report to her mother, her private parts appeared swollen, and her hymen was no longer intact.Kashona handled his own defence during the trial.Public Prosecutor Tania Tait conducted the prosecution.