AN INMATE at Khami Medium Prison who is serving a seven-year jail term had his sentence doubled on Thursday for sodomising a fellow inmate.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Atan Ngwenya (34), who is serving a seven year jail term for robbery, had denied the sodomy charge when he appeared before Bulawayo Regional Court magistrate Crispen Mberewere but he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years.
However, three years of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In sentencing him, Mberewere said sodomy was a serious offence although it could not be compared to the rape of a woman by a man.
“It is a grievous crime and traumatic. Aggravated indecent assault of that nature can also be worse as it impacts on the self-worth of a man and visits him with stigma which can also be for a lifetime,” he said.
“Our society has consistently frowned upon abominations like men preferring to have sex with other men.
“The courts cannot do without acknowledging societal perceptions of some sort.
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“Imprisonment for substantial period of time with a portion suspended is appropriate.”
Prosecutor Trust Mudumo told the court that on November 7 2013 at around 3am, Ngwenya woke up from his blankets in prison cells and slipped into a 26-year-old fellow inmate’s blankets and sodomised him while he was asleep. The inmate woke up while Ngwenya was sodomising him and reported the matter to prison guards.
The victim was taken to Mpilo Hospital for a medical examination, which confirmed sodomy.
