Cape cop guilty of child rape

Cape Town - A Mitchells Plain police officer, who is also a deputy Sheriff of the Court, has been found guilty of statutory rape and sexually assaulting his lover’s teenage daughter.

Warrant Officer Anwar Fisher was convicted in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning of four counts of statutory rape and two counts of sexual assault.

Magistrate Nomqondisi Jwacu, however, acquitted Fisher of three counts related to pornography for naked photographs of himself that were sent to the teenager.

It had emerged in court that Fisher had been having an affair with his wife’s friend and had sexual encounters with his lover’s daughter between July and December 2011. She was between 13 and 14 years old at the time.

Fisher, who had been out on bail during his trial, will now remain in custody after Jwacu cancelled his bail on Wednesday.

Cries from relatives emanated from the corridor of the court after some of his relatives made a frantic exit after his bail was denied.

The court heard of various instances that led the young teen’s mother to become suspicious of relations between Fisher and her daughter.

According to the girl, on one occasion, while she was visiting and watching television, Fisher moved her hand to fondle him. The girl’s mother, who remained in the adulteress relationship, testified that she had been in two minds – claiming she had felt “50/50” about reporting the matter to the police after her suspicions were confirmed when she confronted Fisher.

The child’s mother became suspicious when she saw close interactions between her lover and daughter when they had visited her in hospital. Fisher had denied wanting to sleep with the girl.

In another instance, the mother had found a message on the girl’s cellphone from Fisher, offering to buy her “R5 airtime in exchange for a BJ” (oral sex). Jwacu said the mother was “shocked” by the message.

Fisher said he had meant it as a joke in relation to a different incident.

Jwacu said the message could not have been read as a joke.

Fisher denied having sexually violated or molesting the young girl, saying that the mother had fabricated the story and influenced her daughter, when they were about to break up.

But the court rejected his version.

Jwacu said the mother was the driving force behind the charges.

“I find it hard that the accused would come up with that explanation,” she said.

She added: “If the accused sent the messages of the BJ to a 14-year-old and she proved not to be lying, why should we accept that she is lying about the other instances?”

Jwacu said the young girl stood firm on her evidence and was unshaken.

As a final red flag, the mother had found a Mxit message sent by her daughter to a friend that said she was no longer a virgin. She confronted Fisher who apologised and pleaded with her not to lay charges as he would lose his job as a policeman and his family.

Fisher is due back in court later this month.

natasha.prince@inl.co.za

Cape Argus