14 years jail for rapist cop

A 33-YEAR-OLD Chiredzi police officer who failed to contain his sexual appetite and raped a 21-year-old pregnant Mozambican woman after promising to facilitate her release was last week sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The police officer, Alec Mhlanga who was doing charge office duties allegedly raped the pregnant complainant without protection.

The complainant was a Mozambican from Bwabwatse area but presently staying in Chiredzi and was in police custody after she was arrested for theft.

Mhlanga promised to facilitate her release after the sex session but later knocked off in the morning without doing anything, prompting the complainant to report to a female police officer who had assumed duty.

Mhlanga appeared before Chiredzi senior magistrate Ms Judith Zuyu facing two charges, one of rape and another of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.

The State’s case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Liberty Hove was that on 11 October at about 2am the complainant was arrested and taken to Chiredzi Police Station facing charges of theft.

At the police station she was handed over to Mhlanga and a Constable Masango who were doing charge office duties.

The court heard that the complainant could not be detained in the police cells because she was pregnant and therefore she was to spend the few hours of the night in the charge office being guarded by the two police officers who were manning the charge office.

The State told the court that during the night, the complainant requested to visit the toilet to relieve herself and she was escorted by Mhlanga while Constable Masango remained in the charge office.

It was further the State’s case that after relieving herself Mhlanga took her to the investigations room where he told her that she was facing serious charges but he could release her from police custody on condition she had sexual intercourse with him.

Through the prosecutor Mr Hove, the court heard that Mhlanga then ordered the complainant to hold the bench and he raped her once without protection and told her not to tell anyone.

He took her back to the charge office where she slept till morning.

When she woke up, Mhlanga had knocked off without doing anything to facilitate her release.

She then revealed the abuse to a female police officer — a Constable Usai who had taken over duty from Mhlanga and investigations were carried out, leading to the arrest of Mhlanga.

The complainant was taken to hospital for medical examinations. Mhlanga was represented by Mr Charles Ndlovu.

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