A Harare woman accused of bedding a minor after an Internet hook-up, on Thursday had her High Court bail application rolled over to this Friday.
Precious Teya (26) was arrested last month and charged with rape before she was directed to seek bail at the High Court.
She was first charged with “having sexual intercourse with a minor”, then “rape”, now she faces an “aggravated indecent assault” charge.
Prosecutors allege that on 22 February, the complainant — a Form Two pupil at a renowned private school in Marondera — hooked up with Teya on a dating site and then messaged her via WhatsApp.
Teya sent a list of the services she offered and the respective prices namely NURUV – US$15, FETISH – US$30, FULLHOUSE – US$40 and SEX -US$20.
On 23 February, Teya arrived in a taxi at the complainant’s house in Houghton Park where she met the boy and had sexual intercourse with him.
The boy then asked Teya to leave, but she refused, demanding her money and the minor had to approach a neighbour asking for US$120 so that she could leave.
Teya’s lawyer, Moses Nyatsoma, has accused the State of inconsistencies. He said:
Unfortunately, the State has not served us with papers containing the rape charge. This is the third time they have amended the charge.
This to some extent shows how unstable the State is to prefer charges against my client.
However, the facts at hand also contradict what really transpired on the day in question.
Nyatsoma said the State has not yet provided any evidence to prove that the complainant was 13 years old. He said:
The child is purported to be 13, but we haven’t seen any documents accompanying such claims.
The boy also has a secret cell phone that no one is aware of including his parents and uses it to lure girls online for sexual favours.
We have requested his birth certificate which has not been made available and under normal circumstances, the State, in the absence of a birth certificate orders for an age estimate, that also has not been done.
In as far as the age of the child is concerned we are not sure of anything, if you also look at the stature of the child you cannot tell that he is 13 years of age.
There was no way my client could have made that guess and withdrew herself, also looking at his behaviour of hiring the services of a hooker and paying a taxi, which is not consistent with a 13-year-old.