By KT Reporter
The High Court in Apac district has sentenced a 38-year-old man, Felix Odyek, to 11 years in prison for aggravated defilement.
According to the prosecution, Odyek attacked the victim, a 13-year-old girl, while in the company of her cousin in 2018, in Atura Parish, Aber Sub-county, Oyam District. Odyek was found defiling the girl by a resident, who reported the matter to police, leading to his arrest.
Prosecution led by Lewis Owor relied on testimony from three witnesses, including the victim, her cousin, and her mother. Justice George Okello noted that the accused was well known to the witnesses and was identified at the scene.
Okello said that Odyek’s defense, that he was home and did not know the victim, was dishonest and unconvincing.
The state had asked for 30 years in prison, citing the severity of the offense and its growing prevalence, but Odyek’s lawyer, Brenda Nakibira, stated that Odyek was a first-time offender and had spent over seven years on remand already.
Justice Okello, however, ruled that Odyek will serve 11 years, 10 months after deducting the eight years spent on remand.
A total of 12,312 cases of defilement were reported to the Police in 2024, compared to 12,771 cases reported in 2023. Of the Defilement cases reported in 2024, 8,240 cases were Defilement while 4,072 cases were Aggravated Defilement by nature. North Kyoga region recorded 142 cases-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
