KADOMA — A 35-year-old nurse — who deprived her two minor children of food, shelter and barred them from going to school — was last week sentenced to three years in prison after she was found guilty of two counts of malicious ill-treatment.
The court heard the nurse at Glorious Health Centre in Kadoma is the biological mother of the two children (names withheld), a girl and a boy aged seven and nine respectively.
In count one, she allegedly maliciously ill-treated and molested the female victim by locking her up in a dark room without ventilation and forcing her to sleep on the floor without blankets thereby endangering her health.
She also denied her schooling and subjected the child to beating using various objects, including jagged empty bottles. The victim was also denied food.
In count two, the accused subjected the boy to physical abuse by beating him, forcing him into hard labour and denying the victim food.
The court heard the children were saved from further abuse by a neighbour, who reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused.
The nurse was certified mentally stable by a medical doctor. Magistrate Remigius Jemwa last Friday sentenced her to three years in jail, but suspended 12 months for five years.
A further nine months were suspended on condition she performs 315 hours of community service at Darwendale Primary School. Yvonne Motsi prosecuted.
