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The Ilala District Court has sentenced a 72-year-old man to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of defiling a 10-year-old girl.
Amoni Amandusi Mtwanga, a resident of Pugu, was convicted in Criminal Case No. CC 3920/2026 following a trial presided over by Ilala District Court Magistrate Mohamed Burhani.
The court heard that the offence occurred on November 16, 2025, involving a Standard Three pupil at Kigogo Primary School who lived in the Pugu-Kigogo area.
According to the prosecution, the girl was on her way home from school when Mtwanga called her into his house, which was located near the route she regularly used.
The court was told that the accused lived alone and allegedly took the child into a bedroom, where he sexually assaulted her and prevented her from raising an alarm.
Prosecutors further told the court that the abuse allegedly occurred more than once, with the accused giving the child TZS 1,000 after each incident and instructing her not to tell her mother.
The matter came to light after the girl's mother, Aisha Salum, noticed changes in her daughter's behaviour and questioned her about what had happened.
The child subsequently identified Mtwanga, prompting her mother to report the matter to the authorities and resulting in the criminal proceedings.
After hearing the evidence presented by the prosecution and defence, Magistrate Burhani found Mtwanga guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The court said the sentence should serve as a warning to individuals who engage in sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children.
The case also underscores the importance of parents and guardians being attentive to changes in children's behaviour and promptly reporting suspected abuse to law enforcement authorities.
