He was charged with aggravated defilement contrary to Section 129 of the Penal Code Act.
By Owiny Hope Ochero
Kotido – November 5, 2022: Kotido Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded a driver attached to CRS-CARITAS Abim field office to Kotido government prison on an allegation of defiling an 11-year-old girl.
Modesto Lokuda, 34, resident of Narikapet ward in Kotido municipality was arrested on Wednesday in Yumbe district where he had gone into hiding. He was later transferred back to Kotido where he committed the crime.
Information obtained by TND News indicates that Lokuda defiled the juvenile on October 6, 2022.
The victim was staying at his home. On that day, this digital newspaper understands that the suspect’s wife was away from the district (their home).
He later fled the district and went into hiding after realizing that the case had been reported to Kotido Central Police Station. He was charged with aggravated defilement contrary to Section 129 of the Penal Code Act.
Lokuda appeared before His Worship Fred Awachnedi of the Kotido Chief Magistrates’ Court who read charges against him and remanded him until Tuesday, November 8, 2022, when he will appear for the mention of his case.
In an interview with TND News’ Ochero on Friday morning, Awachnedi said that Lokuda’s file is still before the Directorate of Public Prosecution and requested to be given more time to gather more evidence to back up the case.
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He says Lokuda will be committed to Moroto High Court after the mention of his case on Tuesday, adding that his court does not have jurisdiction to handle offences which are capital in nature.
According to Global Press Journal (GPJ), quoting the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development report, 7,200 children were defiled in the first six months of 2020. “For all of 2019, police recorded nearly 13,700 such cases,” GPJ added.