͵›”• ˆ‘” ƒ••ƒ—Ž–‹‰ •–‡’†ƒ—‰Š–‡”

MBABANE – A 31-year-old man of Ngwenya New Skom was yesterday sentenced to three years for assaulting his stepdaughter with a log.

He was, however, ordered to pay a fine of E7 500. 0fulatseli Splash Ndlovula was facing two counts, under the Sexual Offence and Domestic 9iolence SOD9 $ct No.15 of 2018.

He pleaded guilty of both charges when read to him by the &rown. :hen appearing before 3rin cipal 0agistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi, his right to legal representation was explained to him and he elected to conduct his own defence. In count one, Ndlovula is said to have contravened Section 77 1 a of the SOD9 $ct No.15 of 2018.

$s per the charge sheet, Ndlovula¶s conduct was meant to cause imminent harm to the safety, health, well being of the said child.

The incident happened on February 14, 2024, at Ngwenya New Skom. In the last count, he said to have damaged his girlfriend¶s Navy blue 9ivo model 92026 cellphone, valued at E2 500.

In mitigation, he told the court that he acted in self defence, since both complainants attacked him after a misunderstanding with his lover.

He then told the court that he found his girlfriend conversing with another man in his presence.

³I then took the cellphone we purchased together three years ago from her,´ said the accused.

Ndlovula pleaded for leniency and told the court that he would never commit such an offence in future.

In count one, he was sentenced to pay a fine of E5 000 or spends two years in prison, while in count two, he was sentenced to a year in prison in case he failed to pay a E2 500 fine.