Teacher gets 30 years for raping

MLELE District Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a primary school teacher to 30 years imprisonment for raping and impregnating a 16-year-old pupil.

The heavy penalty fell on 32-year-old Une Thom of Ukingwamizi Primary School who committed the offence to a Standard IV pupil. The court condemned Thom to spend 30 years in jail for raping the girl and three years for impregnating her however.

 He will spend 30 years in prison. Passing the judgment on Monday, Magistrate Teotimus Swai the court had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime. “The prosecution proved the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt that you have committed the felony. The offence you committed is inhumane and barbaric; I, therefore, sentence you to 32 years in jail,” said the magistrate.

 “But, you will serve 30 years in jail as the sentences will go concurrently. This severe sentence will serve as a deterrent to wouldbe culprits,” added Swai .

Prosecutor Inspector of Police, Baraka Hongoli, charged before the court that the convict had established a sexual relationship with his pupil for quite long time.

 “Although the accused had no previous criminal record, I pray to the court to pass a severe punishment that will serve as a lesson to other wrongdoers,” he said.

The prosecution summoned three witnesses, who include the victim’s mother to prove its case before the court. It was reported in court that the girl had delivered a premature baby who died shortly after birth. On mitigation, the convict prayed to court to pass a light sentence because she was a first time offender. It was not yet clear if the convict will appeal against the ruling.

 Meanwhile, the same court sentenced a resident of Magu District in Mwanza Region, Emmanuel Martin, (29), to serve 14 months in jail after he pleaded guilty of pretending to be a security officer.

 The convict appeared for the first time before the Mlele District Court on Monday and pleaded guilty, saying he committed the offence so that he could afford living in town.

Trial magistrate Teotimus Swai delivered a 14-month jail sentence. “I pass this severe sentence so that it also serves a lesson not only to the convict but to other people with similar habits,” he said.

Prosecutor Inspector of Police Baraka Hongoli charged that the convict was featuring on the wanted list for quite long as previous records show that he had committed similar offences in Magu, Mwanza, Bunda and Mpand