‘NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS RAPE’

MBABANE - “This is a simple rape and there is nothing special about it that might induce me to evade trial, in particular in light of the defence that I have.”
This was one of the submissions made by the Zionist priest who is alleged to have subjected his daughters to sexual abuse.

The priest  made these averments in his application for bail which the Crown is vigorously opposing on the basis that he might evade trial and intimidate witnesses in the event he was released on bail.

 In its opposing papers, the Crown informed the court that there was overwhelming evidence against the accused, which would lead to his conviction.
“May I further state that I am not aware of any cogent and reliable evidence against me. I state that all offences under the fifth schedule of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act carry custodial sentences yet people are granted bail,” contended the priest.

He further disputed the assertion by the police that the survivors suffered trauma.
The police, in their opposing papers, informed the court that the survivors have already suffered trauma and the release of the accused on bail would expose them to secondary trauma as they did not known what he would do them.

The accused, however, dismissed this allegation and argued that the police did not attach any expert report to that effect.
“In any, event I will not be staying with the alleged survivors so the issue of secondary trauma is neither here nor there,” he argued.

He further refuted the submission by the police that the survivors had no reason to fabricate a story against him. According to the priest, the survivors were allegedly accusing him of siding with their enemy (his wife).
“I further state that, I am not aware of the evidence of my brother.

Enemy

“The only thing I know is that he is my enemy. He (brother) once held a meeting in which he was planning how he can frame me  for having raped my children. Fortunately enough someone recorded the conversation and I have that conversation in my phone, to prove that I am being framed,” contended the man of the cloth.

According to the accused, the police seemed to attach gravity of the charges on the alleged unnecessary splitting of charges which was apparent from the charge sheet. He told the court that he had been advised and verily believed that the splitting of charges was unnecessary, which was now clouding the judgment of the Crown. The priest (52) is alleged to have had unlawful sexual intercourse with his three daughters over a period of seven years. He has been charged with nine counts under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018.

Unprotected

According to the charge sheet, *Logo allegedly had unlawful and unprotected sexual intercourse with his three daughters who are now aged 24, 21 and 18.
All the nine counts are accompanied by aggravating factors in that he exposed his children to sexually transmitted illnesses such as HIV/AIDS.
He is said to have also inflicted physical and lifetime mental trauma to his daughters.

The bail application is pending before Judge John Magagula.  Appearing for the Crown is in the matter is Beauty Fakudze from the chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) while Nhlanhla Ginindza of N.E. Ginindza Attorneys in Manzini appears for the accused.
* Not real name to protect survivors

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