By SYLVIA MWEETWA –
THE Supreme Court sitting in Kabwe has upheld the 30-year jail sentence slapped on a 27-year-old Chirundu rapist, describing his action as repulsive.
Supreme Court Judge Evans Hamaundu said the sentence slapped on Cephas Mabbandi was appropriate considering that he took advantage of a defenseless girl whom he was supposed to protect as they were neighbours.
Mabbandi was jailed 30 years by the high court for rape after it was established that on May 13, 2013 he raped a girl and during the trial, the State called six witnesses.
The girl testified that Mabbandi on the fateful night sneaked in the room where she was sleeping while holding a homemade torch and held her hands and covered her mouth to avoid raising alarm and raped her.
Mabbandi later left the house leaving behind his slippers and the torch which she positively identified in court and were presented as part of evidence.
Mabbandi was a well-known person because he was the son of the village headman.
At the closure of calling prosecution witnesses, the appellant was found with a case to answer and was put on his defence and was later convicted and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment.
He later appealed against his sentence and conviction to the Supreme Court.
But Mr Justice Hamaundu dismissed the appeal arguing that it lacked merit and upheld the sentence and hoped Mabbandi would use his time in prison to reflect on his actions.