A 14 year-old girl in Arusha, Tanzania has been severely injured after her uncle, John Matemi, allegedly attacked her over an accusation of stealing $70. The incident has drawn significant attention from local authorities and the community.
The Regional Police Commander of Arusha, Justine Masejo, confirmed today, July 23, 2024, that Matemi, 48, is in custody. He is being held on charges related to the assault of his niece, following claims that she stole the money from his home.
Masejo stated that an investigation is underway and once completed, Matemi will face legal proceedings for the alleged offenses.
The young girl, whose identity is being protected, recounted the events leading to the attack. She claimed that the incident occurred on Sunday, July 21, 2024, while she was staying at her grandmother’s house. According to her, her uncle accused her of stealing $70 from his pants, which he had left in his room.
She explained that on Friday, she had come to stay with her grandmother and was instructed to sleep with her uncle’s housekeeper, as the house is near her grandmother’s. The next morning, she went to school, and her mother later confronted her, accusing her of theft. Despite denying the accusation, she was punished by her mother who demanded the money.
On Sunday morning, Matemi visited the grandmother’s house and aggressively demanded the return of the alleged stolen money. The girl continued to deny taking the money, but Matemi reacted violently. He pushed her, beat her with a broomstick, and eventually burned her hand over the stove.
The girl pleaded with her uncle to believe her innocence, but Matemi remained unconvinced and continued to assault her. She was eventually rescued by her aunt, Gladness Emmanuel, who heard the commotion and called for help. Neighbors intervened, and the girl was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Emmanuel described the situation as distressing. After hearing the commotion and seeing the extent of the girl’s injuries, she raised an alarm, leading to the girl’s hospitalization. The child’s condition worsened, prompting the family to report the incident to the police for further action and medical assistance.
The girl’s father, Rabiel Lazier, received news of the incident this morning. Upon visiting the scene, he was deeply shocked by his daughter’s injuries and chose to leave the legal matters to the authorities.
Lazier has called for child rights advocates to step in to ensure his daughter receives the necessary medical treatment and to address the violent incident appropriately.
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