Man held for sodomising boy

2003-11-02 11:34

Bethlehem - Free State police have arrested a suspect in his 20s after a young boy was so badly indecently assaulted he had to be admitted to hospital for treatment.

Eastern Free State area commissioner Eric Nkuna said on Sunday the assault took place in Bohlokong near Bethlehem in the early hours of Saturday.

Nkuna said the the suspect, aged 25, was well known to his 12-year-old victim.

Police believe the boy was at home when his attacker stormed in after kicking open a door. He threatened the child with a knife, forced him to undress and kneel, before sodomising him. and then indecently assaulted him.

Nkuna added the attacker also forced the boy into a nearby field where he again sodomised the boy. The boy was then taken to the arrested man's quarters and assaulted yet again.

The 12-year-old eventually managed to escape and reported the assault to his parents. The police were called and the man arrested.

The boy was admitted to the Bethlehem provincial hopsital, treated and discharged. He will have to report to medical staff again on Monday, Nkuna said.

- SAPA