By James Omoro
Homa Bay, Kenya: A director of a children’s home has been handed a 15-year jail term by a Homa Bay court for defiling a Class Eight girl.
Simeon Ochieng’ Ocholla, who had been running a children’s home in Homa Bay County’s Suba District, was found guilty of sexually abusing the minor in a case presided over by Principal Magistrate Samson Ongeri.
The court was told that on diverse dates between 2010 and August 2011 in Suba District, he intentionally defiled the 16-year-old, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act.
The accused was also faced with an alternative charge of touching the private parts of the minor without her consent, in addition to impregnating her during the ordeal.
The court was told that the complainant, who was staying at the orphanage, was given dinner to take to the house of the accused who lived in the same compound when his wife was away.
Upon the girl’s arrival, the accused exchanged pleasantries before pulling her into his bedroom where he sexually assaulted her.
The court further heard that the accused threatened to assault the complainant if she raised an alarm during the incident.
The minor conceived and the accused’s efforts to give her drugs for an abortion hit a snag.
She later gave birth to a baby boy but the accused refused to admit paternity of the child.
The situation prompted the court to order for a DNA test that later proved he was the biological father of the child.
The accused was remorseful before the court and appealed for leniency since he was the one taking care of his four children, besides being the sole breadwinner of his family.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Edward Itaye, told the court to treat the accused as a first offender since he lacked past criminal records.
The offender was given 14 days to appeal the court verdict.
