Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal businessman who allegedly repeatedly raped his 17-year-old daughter, and inserted a heated spear into her genitals as punishment after he found her in a closed toilet with a boy, was denied bail on Tuesday.
Pietermaritzburg magistrate, Yugen Naidu, refused the application for bail by the 37-year-old father on the grounds that he was likely to intimidate and threaten the state witnesses, including his daughter.
Naidu also found that the State has a fairly strong case against the accused who, if convicted, could face a lengthy term of imprisonment. This increased the possibility that he might evade trial if released on bail, the magistrate said.
The accused, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the complainant, is alleged to have raped his daughter several times over a long period.
The rapes were only reported to the police in January after the man allegedly used a spear, heated on a fire, to assault her.
The girl also suffered burns to her stomach and inner thighs.
It is alleged that on the night of January 5, the father found his daughter in a toilet with a boy at their local church.
The boy fled, and the father allegedly decided to punish his daughter. It is alleged that he then made a fire, heated the spear on it, and burnt her.
The girl managed to escape and ran to her neighbour’s house for help. She was later taken to the hospital.
The case has been adjourned to November 7.
Daily News