Two men from Linda Compound have been sentenced to five years in prison with hard labour for threatening violence and cyber extortion after forcing a man and a woman to engage in a sexual act while being filmed.
John Sichepele, a 36-year-old security guard, and Nobrey Kapalangwe, a 27-year-old caretaker, were also convicted of indecent assault and will be referred to the High Court for sentencing, as the offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
According to court proceedings, the victims,a 49-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman,who are strangers to each other, were walking along a road when they were stopped by the accused and taken to a bush.
There, they were ordered to undressing and engage in sexual intercourse while Kapalangwe recorded the act.
The assailants then demanded K800 from each victim, threatening to share the footage on social media if they failed to pay.
The male victim pleaded with them not to expose the video and promised to pay the money.
The female victim testified that she was confronted by a man armed with a shotgun and a baton, who forced her into the bush.
Despite resisting, she was overpowered and coerced into the act while being filmed.
She later learned that the footage had been circulated, prompting her to report the matter to the police.
In his defense, Sichepele claimed he encountered the victims already engaging in sexual activity in the bush. He alleged that they explained they were a couple who could not afford a lodge.
However, he admitted to touching the woman inappropriately.
Kapalangwe admitted to filming the victims and acknowledged that he instructed them to reenact the act under the pretense of gathering evidence.
Magistrate Amy Masoja found the evidence against the accused to be overwhelming.
She noted that the firearm was presented as an exhibit and that both men had confessed to their actions, including making financial demands from the victims.
“The video is real evidence, and the accused admitted to touching the victim and demanding money. I have no doubt that they are guilty on all three counts,” she ruled.
During mitigation, Sichepele expressed remorse, stating that he had learned from his mistakes and found faith in prison.
Kapalangwe also pleaded for leniency, claiming he had become more aware of his actions and their consequences.
In sentencing, Magistrate Masoja acknowledged that the two were first-time offenders but emphasized the seriousness of their crimes.
“For count one and count three, I sentence you each to five years of hard labour, to run concurrently from the date of arrest,” she ruled.
She further stated that count two, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years, would be referred to the High Court for sentencing.
