Rape accused Sphesihle Welcome Gambu (36) will be spending the next 10 years behind bars after being convicted and sentenced in the Ezakheni Regional Court on Tuesday, February 28.
The sentence stems from an incident that took place in Ezakheni A-Section during November 2006. The victim was at her home when she was requested to charge a cell-phone for the accused, which she did.
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He later returned and violently raped the victim. The incident was reported to police.
The accused fled from the area, but was later arrested by the investigating officer, Constable Ntsele of the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection & Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
The accused was granted bail while the case was provisionally withdrawn for further investigation.
A DNA link subsequently placed the suspect at the crime scene and the case was placed back on the court roll, resulting in his recent conviction.
