Richaman Coffee (47) of Unit M, Chitungwiza, gave the
children US$1 and $15 to each and promised to buy them cell phones, and
delivered one cell phone to the four-year-old so as to buy their silence.
He was initially sentenced to a total of 30 years when he
appeared before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa, charged with
two counts of rape and another charge of indecent assault, but eight years of
the sentence were set aside for five years on condition he does not commit a
similar offence.
Ms Trinity Nyandebvu, appearing for the State, proved that
on January 26, at around midday, the three girls visited Coffee’s house with
intentions to see their friend, who is Coffee’s daughter.
Coffee told the three girls that his daughter was not at
home since she had travelled to their rural areas in Chihota with his wife. But
he asked the three girls to do the dishes and sweep the house on his behalf,
before they went back home.
When the three entered his bedroom, Coffee followed them,
locked the door, fetched a knife and threatened to kill them. He then took
turns to rape the nine and 11-year old girls while the other watched and then
indecently assaulted the four-year-old.
In a bid to have them conceal the sexual assaults, the
court heard that Coffee gave US$1 and $15 to each of the girls and promised to
buy them cellphones. In fulfilling his promise, Coffee bought a cell phone and
gave it to the four-year-old.
On January 27, the four-year-old was spotted by her mother
using the cell phone and she quizzed her on where she had obtained it. That is
when she revealed the indecent assault at the hands of Coffee, resulting in the
matter being taken to police, leading to his arrest. Herald
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