SA soldier held for murder
2004-10-04 22:24
Pretoria - A married South African air force sergeant, who is part of a UN peacekeeping force in Burundi, faces life in prison after being charged with the murder of a 15-year-old prostitute.
The 32-year-old sergeant, from the Hoedspruit air force base, was arrested in Bujumbura on Friday. The body of the 15-year-old Burundian was found about ten days ago.
Therese Nkeshimana was allegedly violently raped and then strangled.
Her body was left in a ditch. The ditch is apparently close to the house where the suspect - who is currently deployed to protect a high-ranking politician - lives.
Many young girls in Bujumbura are driven to prostitution in order to survive. They also vie for the UN soldiers, who by their standards are "rich".
The Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota, said in a statement on Monday that he sees the charges against the sergeant in a serious light - especially as South African soldiers are there to protect lives as well as to help bring about peace and stability.
Seen alive
The incident happened on the night of September 19. The last time Nkeshimana was seen alive was when she and a man took a taxi into town.
An investigation into her death is being carried out by the UN's military police in conjunction with the Burundian authorities.
It is believed that the investigation is being made more difficult as prostitutes in this country have to be buried within 24 hours of their death.
After the girl's body was found, a video was shot and an autopsy carried out. She was buried soon after this. It is unclear whether all forensic evidence had been collected.
The suspect was apparently arrested only after available evidence pointed towards him being a possible suspect. He is being held at Bujumbura's military base.
South Africa does have the jurisdiction to prosecute its own troops.
The accused will however probably face trial in Bujumbura - partly because all the evidence is there and also because it is apparently necessary to show the citizens of Burundi that justice is being carried out.
It is believed that this is the first time that a South African military court hears a case of murder by one of its soldiers.
In such a case, a senior military judge, with assessors, will probably hear the case. Should the accused be found guilty, he will serve out his sentence in an ordinary South African prison.
The case is expected to be resolved in a few weeks.