Rape, robbery convict gets ten years
“In addition to the 10 years' imprisonment, we invoke the provisions of Section 125 of the Trial and Punishment Act and order him to pay compensation of 752,000 shillings to the complainants within six months after serving his custodial sentence,” Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala said.
On the rape charge, the judge said she had considered the same mitigating factors but also taken note of the exposure to the victim. (Credit: HudsonApunyo)
LIRA - A man convicted of aggravated robbery and rape has been sentenced to seven years, four months and 14 days in prison after changing his plea to guilty during trial.
Allan Ocan, Morish Okeng, Isaac Ogwal and Bonny Ayena had been accused of rape and aggravated robbery. Okeng and Ayena pleaded guilty, were convicted and sentenced, while the trial of Ocan and Ogwal commenced.
During the trial, Ogwal changed his plea and pleaded guilty, leading to his sentencing by High Court Judge Sarah Birungi Kalibbala.
The court heard that Ogwal had initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea during the proceedings.
In sentencing him, the judge said she had considered the submissions in aggravation by the State, the mitigation by the defence and the convict's own submission in allocutus.
“I have considered previous sentences in the ones I put before. Considering the fact that the accused changed his plea, which is a mark of remorse, being a young age,” the judge said.
She sentenced Ogwal to 10 years' imprisonment on the charge of aggravated robbery.
“In addition to the 10 years' imprisonment, we invoke the provisions of Section 125 of the Trial and Punishment Act and order him to pay compensation of 752,000 shillings to the complainants within six months after serving his custodial sentence,” she said.
The judge took into account the two years, seven months and 16 days Ogwal had spent on remand and deducted the period from the 10-year sentence.
He was therefore left to serve seven years, four months and 14 days.
“I accordingly sentence you to 10 years' imprisonment on account of rape,” she said.
The period Ogwal had spent on remand was again taken into consideration and deducted from the sentence, leaving him with seven years, four months and 14 days.
The judge ordered that the two sentences run concurrently.
Ogwal was also ordered to pay the complainant 752,000 shillings, which the court heard had been stolen from her, within six months after serving his custodial sentence.
The judge informed him of his right to appeal within 14 days.
Meanwhile, the trial of Ocan remains pending. The court adjourned the case to August 15 for judgment. Ocan was further remanded till then.