A 46-year-old man from Glen View, Zimbabwe, has been arrested for allegedly forcefully having carnal knowledge of his 18-year-old daughter-in-law over five days.
The suspect, a father of four, was apprehended on Tuesday, April 1, after he had repeatedly sneaked to the sleeping area of his son’s wife at night to sleep with her under duress.
Confirming the arrest, Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, stated, “Police have arrested a man from Glen View 3 for the crime. The accused is the victim’s father-in-law.”
Reports indicate that the suspect would leave his wife in their bedroom at night and sneak into his daughter-in-law’s sleeping area, where he carried out the assaults.
The ordeal reportedly began on March 18 when the victim, who was sleeping in the dining room with her husband, was attacked.
The suspect’s first attempt was very easy because the victim thought it was her husband reaching out to her for intimacy.
But she realized that something was not right midway and tried to resist but was reportedly slapped twice and handcuffed.
The suspect then proceeded to seal her mouth with Sellotape before repeatedly assaulting her.
The abuse continued over five consecutive nights, with the suspect using the same method each time.
To keep her from speaking out, he allegedly threatened to kill her five-month-old baby if she exposed the abuse. Fearing for her child’s safety, the victim remained silent.
On the fifth day, she managed to escape and confided in her mother, who promptly reported the incident to the police.
This led to a swift investigation and the suspect’s arrest.
The victim has since been taken to the Family Support Clinic for medical examination as investigations continue.
