Justice Ministry lawyer sentenced to 18 years in jail for raping 4 year old

A Zimbabwean lawyer employed by the Ministry of Justice has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for raping his best friend’s 4-year-old daughter, the Zimbabwe National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed. 

“Mike Mudara (34) a lawyer employed by the Ministry of Justice was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment at the Gokwe Magistrates Court for raping a 4 year old juvenile,” read a statement by the NPA. 

“The National Prosecuting Authority told the court that some time early last year the accused person being a friend to the father of the 4 year old complainant took her to his home for her personal safety and security after the father had been involved in a physical brawl with an unknown man.

“When they got to the accused person’s house he asked the complainant to lie down on the sofa, removed her underwear and raped her. 

“He told her that he was applying some medicine onto her and afterwards he threatened to beat her if she told her father of the incident.

“The matter came to light when the complainant’s aunt saw her scratching her private parts and asked why she was doing so. The complainant then told the aunt about the incident, leading to the arrest of the accused person.

“The National Prosecuting Authority aggravated for a stiff penalty as the accused person is an employee in the justice delivery sector who knows better about the protection of children and their rights.” 

Gokwe Regional Magistrate Mr Lungile Ndlovu passed the sentence while Ms Melisa Makombe represented the State.