Gang rapists sentenced to life in Tanzania prison

By Jacobs Seaman Odongo | Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Gang rapists sentenced to life in Tanzania prison
The four men - seen here dressed in civilian clothing - were ordered to pay compensation to the victim
Among the convicts are Clinton Damas, a soldier with the Tanzania People's Defence Force, and Praygod Mushi, a prison officer.

BBC | A court in Tanzania's capital has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for the gang rape and sodomy of a girl under the age of 18 in a case which caused outrage in the country.

Among the convicts are Clinton Damas, a soldier with the Tanzania People's Defence Force, and Praygod Mushi, a prison officer.

The other two convicts are Nickson Jackson and Amin Lema.

In addition to the life sentences, the four men have each been ordered to pay 1m shillings ($370; £275) to the victim.

Topics You Might Like

Gang rapists sentenced to life in Tanzania prison Tanzania

A fifth suspect - a senior policewoman suspected of ordering the sex attack - is to be tried separately in October.

The case has triggered shockwaves in Tanzania, which is a highly conservative society.

Outside the Dodoma Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, the men's defence lawyer, Godfrey Wasonga, said they were dissatisfied with the ruling, claiming that some legal provisions had been violated.

But several activists, celebrities, and human rights defenders have praised the court's judgment on social media.

A video of the gang-rape began circulating online in August, and soon afterwards police urged the public not to forward the footage so as "to avoid torturing the victim and her family".

The East African nation is struggling to deal with a surge in gender-based violence, with many cases going unreported, according to local media.

"Ignoring these issues will only lead to their increased occurrence in our society," warned the Legal and Human Rights Centre last month.

In recent weeks a police commander, Theopista Mallya, was removed from her post following controversial comments in which she linked the victim to sex work.

What’s your take on this story?

Get breaking news first — follow us

Get Ahead of the News.
Stay in the know with real-time breaking news alerts, exclusive reports, and updates that matter to you.

Tap ‘Yes, Keep Me Updated’ and never miss what’s happening in Uganda and beyond—first and fast from NilePost.