A local court on Monday sentenced a man to a ten-year term for defiling a 12-year-old girl in Koch County in Unity State last Thursday.
The minor was flown to Juba for medical examination and further treatment at the Juab Teaching Hospital but succumbed to injuries inflicted on her by the defiler on Sunday.
The 32-year-old convict identified as Tutdiet Nhial was also ordered to pay traditional blood compensation amounting to 121 cows to the victim’s family.
Koch County Paramount Chief John Mattiek Puot Wuor told Radio Tamazuj after the ruling that the convict committed a heinous crime against the community.
“We sentenced the man to prison after he raped a 12-year-old girl to death and he committed crimes against the community of Koch County,” he stated. “The local court sentenced the man to prison for ten years after he was involved in the rape of a 12-year-old girl. We do not want this incident to happen in our community again so this sentence is a deterrent for and an example to other criminals in our county.”
According to the chief, the unfortunate incident happened near the oilfields between the Koch County headquarters and Jaah Payam.
“The girl who was raped was taken to Juba for medical treatment but she died on Sunday as a result of the rape,” he added.
An accomplice of Nhial who allegedly restrained and held the girl down as she was being abused, was convicted for being complicit in the crime and also sentenced to 10 years in jail.
The police director in Koch County, Brig. Gen. James Tut Wal confirmed the defilement case and said they arrested the suspects and presented them before the local court which found them guilty.
“We, the police arrested and sent the guy who was accused of defiling the 12-year-old girl to the court. The incident took place last Thursday evening in the area between Jaah Payam and Koch County headquarters,” he echoed. “The girl was taken to Juba for medical treatment she died on Sunday due to injuries she sustained when she was sexually abused.”
It is the second time a similar case has happened in Koch County. Last month, two men were sentenced to five years each in prison after defiling a minor.