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Family agony as postmortem on son’s exhumed body reveals sexual assault
Government chief pathologist Johansen Oduor. Mr Oduor, who recently did a postmortem after the body was exhumed, told the family that the boy was sexually abused. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- The boy’s mother told the Nation by telephone that the ordeal started on December 12, when her son was invited by a teacher for a game of pool at a nearby restaurant. The teacher then bought him a soda.
- The following day, the mother went to the hospital accompanied by a close relative of the alleged abuser and the deceased got very angry and refused to speak to them.
- “When he regained consciousness, he came to the house and took poison. We took him to Muthaara Sub-County Hospital in Tigania, where he died after being admitted for 10 days,” the woman said.
Just as a family in Igembe North, Meru County, was beginning to come to terms with the death of their son in unclear circumstances, tests after his body was exhumed on Saturday revealed some devastating news.
The boy, 17, died on December 22 last year and was buried four days later. A postmortem was not done, despite allegations of sexual abuse.
The family had reported the matter to Laare Police Station, but the officers did not conduct an investigation.
Government Pathologist Johannsen Oduor, who recently did a postmortem after the body was exhumed, told the family that the boy was sexually abused.
Dr Oduor said: “There are bruises on the body and we concluded that there is a clear case of penetration.”
The boy’s mother told the Nation by telephone that the ordeal started on December 12, when her son was invited by a teacher for a game of pool at a nearby restaurant. The teacher then bought him a soda.
The mother said that later, her son was found looking drunk and lying under a tree near their home with mud all over his body.
She was told about his state but was angry and did not want to talk to him. The mother said her older daughter went to check on him, but he said nothing.
“When he regained consciousness, he came to the house and took poison. We took him to Muthaara Sub-County Hospital in Tigania, where he died after being admitted for 10 days,” the woman said.
“He was unconscious for days but the first time he spoke, he told me to request the doctor to allow him to go to the police station.
“Although he was still unwell, the doctor agreed. He told me that the teacher had sexually abused him and he wanted to report the matter himself,” she said.
CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
The mother went to Laare Police Station, but the officers told her to wait for her son to recover before she could make her report.
“They warned me that my son risked being arrested and charged with attempted suicide should he go to the station. I left without my report being booked,” she said.
The following day, the mother went to the hospital accompanied by a close relative of the alleged abuser and the deceased got very angry and refused to speak to them.
“My son asked me to tell the visitor that he did not want to see him because of what his brother did to him,” she said.
The mother said on December 20, her son asked for new clothes in anticipation of being discharged from hospital the following day. When the mother returned the next day without the clothes, he became furious.
She recalled him telling her: “Mum, I can see you are happy today. Tomorrow, you will not be happy. You will not see me.”
The mother said he died the following day. She reported the matter to Igembe North police boss Cornelius Sing’oei, who obtained an order from a Meru court for the exhumation for tests. Police have launched a probe after the pathologist’s report.
Family members and two witnesses, who saw the teacher and the student playing pool, have recorded statements. Residents say the suspect is believed to have gone into hiding.
