Men Arise Now Cheers Legal Aid Bureau For Assisting Voiceless Victims

Executive Director for Men Arise Now Organization  Watson Shawa made this remarks following a recent ruling by the Balaka First Grade Magistrate in which it has aquitted a man identified as Issah Josephy who was accused of sexually assaulting his daughter.

The brief background of the matter is that, the court heard that Josephy was seen by his neighbor fondling the breasts of his daughter and also touching her buttocks outside his house.

However, the victim revealed in court that she was not defiled and that the neighbor forced her to implicate her father.

With this and other factors, the court found that the state failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime.

Commenting on this development, Shawa said the incident is indicative that some men might be serving jail terms after being wrongly accused.

He said, in most instances men are considered guilty even before trial begins.

Shawa has since made an appeal to the judiciary and other stakeholders to ensure that the rights of men are also protected despite being accused of committing a crime.