Mom told rape in prison 'commonplace'
2012-12-12 09:09
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Durban - A “normal” 16-year-old teen became violent and
unmanageable after he was raped in prison four years ago following an arrest
for shoplifting that saw him thrown into a cell with hardened criminals.
“He is violent, he runs around naked and has been in and out
of hospital,” his crying mother testified during a R1.5m civil case against the
State, The Mercury reported.
The teen suffered a mental breakdown, left school and needed
psychiatric care, she claimed.
She said the Centre for Child Law told her his changed
behaviour, which included attacking her with a bottle, was a result of the
rape.
The teen had stolen a pair of R49.99 shorts from Woolworths.
“He did not need to be detained… He was not a threat to
society,” advocate Peter Rowan said.
The mother testified that when she was told about her son’s
rape in prison, she informed court staff and was told “that this is allowed in
prison… it is commonplace”.
A Durban doctor who examined the teen after the incident in
jail said his injuries were consistent with genital penetration and said it was
the most likely cause of the injuries, but under cross-examination said this
could have been caused by blunt force trauma.
The Centre for Child Law hopes the case will highlight the
plight of children detained after being accused of petty crimes.
