 |
| Babu Seya (R) and his son Papii Kocha were found guilty of 10 counts of rape |
A court in Tanzania has
dismissed an appeal by popular singer Nguza Viking, known as Babu Seya,
and his son, sentenced to life in prison for rape.
Judges said there was no reason to doubt that the two had raped 10 primary school girls in 2003.
At their last appeal three years' ago, two of Viking's other
sons, who had also been found guilty of the same charges in 2004, were
acquitted.
The case has shocked Viking's many fans in the East African nation.
The rhumba musician, who is originally from neighbouring
Democratic Republic of Congo, has lived in Tanzania for years and built
up a loyal following.
The BBC's Ben Mwang'onda in Tanzania's main city of Dar es
Salaam says both Viking and his son Johnson Nguza, also a musician known
by the stage name Papii Kocha, appeared in court during their appeal.
They looked calm when the judges turned down their request to have the charges quashed, he says.
They had been convicted of raping 10 girls aged between six
and eight years who were pupils at Mashujaa Primary School in the
Kinondoni district of Dar es Salaam.
Their lawyer told the BBC that this had been the musicians' last hope of appeal.
He had hoped that the defence's point that key witnesses had
not been called for questioning during the original trial would have
persuaded the judges.
Our reporter says the musicians are likely to spend the rest
of their lives in jail unless they are granted a presidential amnesty.
BBC
Find More
No comments:
Post a Comment