A Marondera maid who bedded her employer's nine-year-old boy was yesterday sentenced to 10 years in jail after she was convicted of aggravated indecent assault. She would, however be imprisoned for five-and-a-half years after Marondera regional magistrate Ms Mavis Kadumba suspended four-and-a-half years for five years.

The 34-year-old maid had denied the charge when her trial opened before regional magistrate Ms Kadumba last Tuesday but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence against her.

Prosecutor Ms Memory Mandudzo told the court that on October 5, the boy was watching television with his five-year-old brother when the maid ordered him to go into his bedroom to pack his clothes.

She then instructed the five-year old to play outside.

The maid followed the boy to his bedroom where she forcibly took off his pants.

She threw him on the bed before taking off her own clothes and sexually abused him.

After the act, the court heard, the maid threatened him with death if he reported the matter to anyone.

The maid had worked for the family for two weeks when she committed the crime.

The matter came to light on November 1 when the boy's mother inquired from the boy if he was aware of an offence called rape.

This was after the mother had noticed some queer behaviour from the boy.

The boy disclosed the sexual abuse committed on him by the maid.

In her defence, the maid had denied the charge claiming that the boy's mother was fixing her after suspecting her of having an affair with her husband.

A medical report, which was produced in court, revealed that there were some rashes on the boy's genitals.