Four Tanzanian men, including a soldier and a policeman, have been jailed for life for gang-raping an underage girl in a case that sparked national outrage
NAIROBI, Kenya — Four Tanzanian men, including a soldier and a policeman, were sentenced to life in prison on Monday for gang-raping an underage girl in a case that sparked national outrage.
The four were sentenced in a magistrate in the capital Dodoma. The court also ordered each man to pay 1 million Tanzanian shillings ($366) to the rape victim.
All four had pleaded not guilty at trial to charges of gang rape and sodomy.
The attack took place in August and a video of the violence was widely shared online, prompting police to urge the public to stop sharing it so as not to further victimize the 17-year-old girl.
Dodoma police chief Theopista Mallya was transferred after she linked the rape video to sex work.
The suspects were charged in court on August 19 following calls from women’s rights groups for justice to be served.
Local media have reported an increase in gender-based violence in the country.