The man sneaked into his friend’s house and raped his friend’s wife after leaving the man at an entertainment venue

Three friends, including the woman’s husband, dropped the woman at home and went to an entertainment venue where one of the friends sneaked out and proceeded to rape the woman.

Police in Mpumalanga have welcomed a 10-year prison sentence imposed by the Lydenburg Regional Court on a 39-year-old man convicted of raping his friend’s wife.

The name of the convicted rapist is being withheld in an effort to protect the identity of the raped woman.

The court heard that in May 2022, a group of four friends, including a woman who was 44 years old at the time, met for drinks after a funeral in Lydenburg.

“The victim (woman) felt tired and decided to stop. They all got into a car and dropped her off at home. They then went back for entertainment and the house was locked up by the victim’s husband,” Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said.

During the trial, the court heard the 39-year-old man decided to return to the house where they had dropped off his friend’s wife, leaving his friend at the nightspot.

He managed to get the house keys and then went to the room where the woman was sleeping.

“It was during this time that the suspect raped the victim,” Mdhluli said.

The incident was subsequently reported to police and the Specialist Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) Unit was tasked to investigate.

The investigation was conducted and it led to the arrest of the 39-year-old man.

“The man appeared in court several times before being convicted and was ultimately sentenced to a direct 10-year prison sentence on Monday, October 28, 2024,” Mdhluli said.

“Thanks to the Lydenburg Regional Court, which ensured that the man gets what he deserves.”

IOL