•Zainab said giving a non-custodial sentence in such a case would amount to mockery of the justice system.
•The court in sentencing Nzuki took into consideration how the minors, who are now adults, have been affected by the actions of the accused person.
Image: FILE
A former director of a children's home has been sentenced to 100 years behind bars for defiling four minors entrusted in his care.
Senior Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul said Stephen Nzuki ought to have protected the minors but he instead went ahead and defiled them severally.
"There is no doubt offences committed are very serious and carry a heavy penalty. It is, therefore, the responsibility of this court to impose a deterrent sentence to other would-be offenders."
Nzuki had pleaded for leniency and a non-custodial sentence which was declined by the court.
Zainab said giving a non-custodial sentence in such a case would amount to mockery of the justice system.
The court in sentencing Nzuki took into consideration how the minors, who are now adults, have been affected by the actions of the accused person.
In count one where the minor was nine years at the time of the offence, the accused will serve 50 years. He will serve 20 years for defiling another 15-year-old and 20 years for defiling a 13year old.
He was also found guilty of the offence of indecent act with a minor. He will serve 10 years for that.
The offences were committed between 2010 and 2016 at Screams Africa children's home at Mihango within the Utawala area.
In the judgement delivered last week, the court considered the handwritten notes of the boys that were written on May 22 2016 giving an account of the abuse.
The court observed that the notes were written on a date much closer to when the incidents happened thus their memories were much better at the time.
The court also found that the age of the victims was sufficiently proved by the dental records produced in court.
The court said it was satisfied that this case was an issue of recognition as the boys knew the accused for a long period having stayed with him.
The court further dismissed Nzuki's defence saying sexual offences are done in high secrecy and just denying the defilement was not enough defence.
It was also the court finds that it did not find any reason why the boys would want to frame the said director.
Nzuki had made an application before court to have one of the boys who was his victim to come and testify in his defense but the court declined.
12 prosecution witnesses testified in the case. The defense also called 6 witnesses after he was found to have a case to answer.
International Justice Mission (IJM) tool partbin the case by represnting the victims in court. It also offered psychosocial care to the victims who were traumatized following the abuse.