Senior Resident Magistrate court in Limbe on November,16, 2021 ordered a 21-year-old man, Patrick Kasamba to spend 12 years and 9 years in prison for attempted rape and robbery respectively.
Sub Inspector Kenneth Nhlawe, a prosecutor based at Limbe Police Station, told the court that the offences were committed on April, 1, 2021, around 06:40pm in Mudi, Limbe.
According to Sub Inspector Nhlawe, the victim, Agness Tambwali, was on the particular day coming from Makhetha to Limbe passing through a short-cut road which passes through Mudi forest before being attacked by the convict.
Nhlawe added that the convict together with his accomplice who is still at large, tried to rape her but failed because well-wishers came to her rescue. “They only went away with cash amounting to K8,000, Itel cellphone valued at K7,500 and National Identity Card.
The convict was later apprehended by Limbe police detectives and charged with attempted rape and robbery which contravene Section 134 and 301(1) of the penal code respectively.
Appearing in court, he denied being in the wrong, prompting the state prosecutor to parade three witnesses who testified against him, proving him guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
In submission Sub Inspector Nhlawe prayed for a stiffer penalty saying cases of this nature are common. He further told the court that the crime was systematically planned, and that the victim suffered a loss as the money stolen was not recovered.
In mitigation, the convict pleaded with the court for leniency saying he was the first offender and that he is sick not physically fit.
But passing his judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Byson Masonga while quashing Kasamba’s mitigation factors, concurred with the state prosecutor. He therefore sentenced him to 12 years and 9 years in prison for attempted rape and robbery respectively, but sentence to run concurrently.
