Man Remanded To Prison On Allegation Of Raping Married Woman

Lira High Court on Friday morning remanded a 47 year old man to one week at Lira government prison on allegation that he raped a married woman, Susan Adero.

Prosecution told Court that on the 2 February, 2014 at around 9:30 pm at Odekgweno village, Adwoki parish, Agwata Sub-County in Dokolo district, Otim James raped a woman married to one Okwir Patrick.

Ayo Geoffrey, the local council one vice chairperson for Odekgweno village also one of the witnesses who testified in Court gave contradicting statements from the one he recorded at Police. The Judge told Court he was too confused, causing laughter.

Following that false testimony from the witness, the accused Lawyer, Patrick Adar of Adar & Co. Advocates wondered whether Court should trust evidence from a person who was contradicting his earlier statements.

Earlier on, during cross examination by Counsel Adar, another witness Okwir Patrick, the husband of the victim told Court that it’s not the first time the accused is committing such a crime. He further testified to Court that he had wanted compensation of shilling 600,000 from the accused.

“I want to tell this Court that when Otim was released on bond from Koroto government Prison after raping my wife, he raped another woman again and that case was solved from home. He was fined one goat which he paid because that victim’s husband never wanted another case on Otim since mine was already going on. I also wanted Otim to just pay me shs.600, 000 as compensation since my wife even left me already because of his actions,” Okwir prayed.

“Mr, you are the whole vice chairperson of that area. Now between meeting the police at the roadside when the accused was already arrested and not seeing the accused at all, which one do you want me to write? Do you even want this Court to think that you are telling us the truth?” Justice Ajiji questions false witness.

“Considering that both witnesses did not give this honorable Court substantial evidence against Otim, i further remand Otim James to Lira government prison until 14 June 2018 so as to give time for the other two witnesses who were not present in Court today to give their account on the case,” Ajiji stated.