Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s Son Siqokoqela Wins Appeal Against Jail Sentence For Rape

Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s Son Siqokoqela Wins Appeal Against Jail Sentence For Rape
Siqokoqela Mphoko, the son of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, has won the appeal against conviction and a lengthy 20-year jail sentence related to charges of raping his niece.

The appeal was heard by judges Bongani Ndlovu and Munamato Mutevedzi at the Bulawayo High Court, who determined that the original conviction lacked reliability.

The judges pointed out several factors that contributed to their decision. They highlighted that the allegations against Mphoko were primarily influenced by threats made by the child’s mother and the leading inquiries posed by social workers involved in the case.

Furthermore, significant delays in the reporting of the alleged crime were also taken into account, suggesting a lack of credibility in the claims made against him.

Additional Charges and Sentencing

Despite the successful appeal regarding the rape conviction, Mphoko was not wholly exonerated. The judges upheld his conviction for an additional charge of escaping lawful custody. This charge stemmed from an incident where he fled from a police station shortly after his initial arrest. For this escape, Mphoko received a two-month prison sentence.

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Siqokoqela Mphoko
Former VP’s son Siqokoqela Mphoko wins appeal against conviction-Image Source@X
Following the court’s ruling, Mphoko was released on bail while the appeal process was ongoing. His case has attracted significant attention, shedding light on the complexities surrounding legal proceedings and the challenges faced by individuals within the judicial system.

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Uproar online against the ruling

When the news of the court ruling was shared on X, many people were outraged. There is large outcry by people against the ruling of the court. Many people have complained that the judiciary is not protecting children. Below are some of the comments:

@munzvengure

Aggrieved parents must seek private prosecution. This is a travesty of justice. We are all not children of shefs

@leesah_zimbo

Dangerous judges conniving with dangerous rapists against young kids.
@TMutamaenda
Arrest people with pedophilic disorders please they don’t deserve to be in our societies cmon is it because he’s former VP’s son

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The post Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s Son Siqokoqela Wins Appeal Against Jail Sentence For Rape appeared first on iHarare News.

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