The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a 20-year prison sentence for a man convicted of defiling a 14-year old girl in Taveta.

The man was found guilty of defilement by Principal Magistrate Eugene contrary to the law. The ruling followed a full trial where Counsel. Ms. Louane Lwane, led the prosecution, calling five witnesses and producing evidence that proved the case.

“The convict was found guilty of defilement by Principal Magistrate Eugene Kadima contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act. He had also faced an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with a child contrary to Section 11(1) of the same Act,” DPP stated.

The court heard that the the girl had gone missing for five days after attending primary school athletics competitions in a nearby school before her guardian reported her disappearing.

The disappearance was reported to the head teacher, who immediately started searching for the girl. Acting on a tip-off, the headteacher was informed that the she had been seen with the suspect at Mwangaza, walking towards a house where they were believed to be staying. However, the DPP said that there were concerns that the suspect intended to move her to another location.

The headteacher, later proceeded to the suspects house, accompanied by the girl’s grandmother and police officers, where the convict was found with the minor and arrested.

The Principal Magistrate Kadima found that the prosecution had proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt before handling the sentence. The convict was given 14 days within which to appeal.