A 52-year-old man with multiple defilement cases has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old-girl.

Taveta Principal Magistrate Eugene Kadima convicted and sentenced Evans Manochi Metioni after ruling that the case against him had been proved beyond any reasonable doubt.

The accused person committed the offence between September 2, 2023 and September 15, 2023, at Challa village of Taveta Sub- County.

Appearing before the court, Manochi denied the charge levelled against him prompting the prosecution through prosecution counsel Idris Tomno to call five witnesses including the girl to testify against him.

In his submission, prosecution counsel pleaded with the court for stiffer punishment, saying that the accused person knew the victim as his neighbour and took advantage of her.

The court noted the evidence of the minor and ruled that the accused manipulated the victim with money to satisfy his twisted desires, leading to multiple instances of sexual abuse.

The magistrate stated that the witnesses pointed out key legal ingredients in the defilement case for the court to make an appropriate decision.

The court further stated that the threshold of reasonable doubt has been proved to show the accused person indeed committed the crime against the minor.

In mitigation, the convict pleaded with the court for leniency, saying he is a family man and would like to continue taking care of his wife and children.

Passing judgement, Magistrate Kadima ruled that the crime is serious in nature and that the child is psychologically and physically affected.

The convict has three other defilement cases pending before Taveta court.