Alleged child molester decries S�brana report delay

Pini Bothoko | Thursday July 13, 2017 16:02

 

The suspect, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, is custody for allegedly unlawfully touching his two-year daughter’s private parts since she was five months old. It is reported that in the past the suspect went to an extent of ripping off his daughter’s nappies when she was five months old and unlawfully touched her private parts. 

The suspect appeared for the first time in court in March 24, 2017 and prosecution applied for him to be sent to Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital for mental health assessment. On May 11, 2017 the suspect was sent to Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital where he was tested and the prosecution is waiting for the report that was suppose to take six weeks.

The accused raised a concern that he had appeared in court several times but the case is not progressing. He challenged court to state when be report would be released. He raised a concern that the case is taking a long whilst he is suffering at prison.

“Prison is overcrowded, it is not healthy at all and this delays worries me because they are costing me, this case could be far now but now I am stuck at prison just because Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital is failing to release the report. When will it be released because the promised time has elapsed,” said the alleged child molester.

Representing state prosecution, inspector Peter Simisani told court that they are still waiting for the suspect’s report from Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital and until it is provided, they could not continue with the matter. Simisani conceded that there was a delay and that is true that the agreed time has elapsed. 

“We depend on the report and since it is not yet ready we cannot proceed with the case. The hospital told us that they encountered delays hence the report might take four months not six weeks as they had promised. I am pleading with this court to give us more time so that we can wait for the report,” Simisani said, pleading with court to set another mention date. 

Magistrate Ntombizodwa Ncube remanded the accused, informing him that he is facing a serious offense involving a minor and therefore the investigations could not be interrupted. “You are charged with an indecent assault offense in which you are accused of unlawfully touching a minor’s private parts, please allow the prosecution to compile its arguments,” Ncube said.