Former Mandera cop jailed 15 years for defiling minor

A former police reservist was on Monday jailed for 15 years for defiling a 17-year-old girl in Meta Meta, Mandera county.

Hussein Ibrahim Hassan was accused of defiling the minor on April 5 last year around noon.

The prosecution told the court the accused lured the minor to pass through a certain route while going home. He claimed it was for her safety before turning against her.

The girl was later rescued by neighbours when they heard her scream from the nearby apartment.

While sentencing the suspect, Mandera senior resident magistrate Kimani Mukabi said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused defiled the minor.

The magistrate said the accused has a right to appeal in 14 days.

In his defence, the accused denied knowing the victim saying he could not recall the events of the fateful day leading to his day in court.

Speaking after the ruling, the mother of the victim expressed her satisfaction saying that finally justice had been served to her daughter.

“I have been in this court since the case begun and today I can confirm I will be going home a very happy mother after this ruling. 

"Even though the wounds that were inflicted to my daughter will permanently remain, I take solace in the fact that justice has been served to her and us as a family,” she said.

She decried rising cases of defilement and called for stiffer penalties to the offenders.

Farhia Mohamed Ibrahim, the wife of the reservist, said her husband was being framed.

“I still maintain that my husband did not defile the minor as it is alleged. He is innocent and I remain optimistic that he will be freed,” she said.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)