School watchman jailed for 30 years for defiling 12-year-old girl, infecting her with STI

The Malaba Law Court has sentenced to 30 years imprisonment a school watchman it found guilty of defiling a 12-year-old school girl in Teso North, Busia County.

The court heard that Peter Ekaranit, who was a watchman at Kajei Primary School at the time he committed the crime, allegedly lured the minor who had come to fetch water before sexually assaulting her at Achuot village.

The suspect was caught in the act and arrested after the matter was reported at the Malaba Police Station on December 12, 2024.

While delivering the ruling at the Malaba Law Court, Resident Magistrate Zowade Ogange sentenced the culprit to serve 30 years in prison for defiling the minor and infecting her with a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

“I have considered the circumstances of this case. I note that the accused person who works as a watchman interacts with a number of people at the school including young girls and his conduct as demonstrated in this case is wanting,” she noted.

“To release the accused person to the society will put many other girls at risk. Knowing his status, he went ahead to have sex with the minor increasing her risk of exposure. I hereby sentence him to 30 years imprisonment which runs from 16/12/2024 when he was remanded.”

This ruling comes barely two weeks after four family members were sentenced to three years imprisonment for conspiracy to defeat justice in a defilement case.

Jacob Ekwenye, Charles Emuluk, Partrick Erogat and Levis Erogat were found guilty for holding a kangaroo court to determine matters on defilement where they raised funds to procure an abortion for a 17-year-old girl in efforts to sweep under the matter.