A 25-year-old man from Nginamadvolo has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment with a fine option of E10 000 for indecently touching a woman.
Nkosenhle Tsabedze appeared before Pigg’s Peak Senior Magistrate Sindisile Zwane where he was charged with contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, which he committed on November 1 while in Pigg’s Peak town. According to the charge sheet, the accused intentionally harassed Cebile Maseko by touching her breasts and all over the body. The accused, during his appearance in court said he did not remember what happened as he was drunk on that day. He also claimed that he was even beaten by the police while in custody and his arm was injured.
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According to the complainant’s testimony, the accused started harassing her while she was near BoxerStore in Pigg’s Peak.
She said she tried to escape from the accused but he followed her while indecently touching her.
It was until the woman sought cover at the Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital where she escaped into one of the wards and security guards there intervened and restrained the accused. She said she then went to the Pigg’s Peak Police Station where she opened a case and Tsabedze was arrested the same day.
Before sentencing the accused, Magistrate Zwane condemned his actions, saying drinking alcohol did not mean that he had the right to abuse other people. She reminded the accused that everyone had a right to drink alcohol but they should do so responsibly. Zwane told him that he committed a serious crime, which needed a deterrent sentence not only to him but to other would-be offenders.
In mitigation, Tsabedze asked the court to be lenient with him as he stays with his grandmother at home who needs his attention. He apologised for committing the offence and promised that he will never commit a similar one in future.
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