Suspect sentenced to three life terms for rape and human trafficking

A 44-year-old man was sentenced to three life terms in prison for the rape and human trafficking of a 12-year-old girl.

On Thursday, 29 April, the High Court of South Africa in Gauteng sentenced  Augustine Omini Obono to three life imprisonment terms for human trafficking, rape, statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor. The court also sentenced him to three years for kidnapping and seven years for running a brothel.

A WOMAN LURED THE GIRL AWAY

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the 12-year-old girl was at a picnic when she was approached on 3 September 2016.

“While the minor was at a park in Derdepoort for a picnic with her friends, she met a woman who asked her to accompany her to a flat in Sunnyside, Pretoria. The woman promised the minor that she would give her taxi money to go to Mamelodi the following morning.”

Ever trusting, the child followed the woman to a flat in Sunnyside only for her to be handed over to Obono.

CHILD HAD TO ENDURE RAPE BY SEVERAL MEN

For three months the victim was fed drugs and forced to have sex with several men a day.

“Obono kept the minor in the flat for three months. During this period, he fed her drugs and forced her to have sex with five to six men a day,” said Mahanjana.

In December 2016, the brave girl managed to escape and went straight to her uncle’s home in Mamelodi.

“When she arrived, she informed her uncle of what had happened. The uncle reported the matter to the police and the minor pointed out the flat where she was kept.”

When police arrived at the scene, they found Obono and arrested him. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit has since sent the minor for counselling.

READ: Suspect arrested for the human trafficking of teenage girls