Tobiko also expressed disappointment that three other co-accused persons had not been apprehended even after warrants of arrest had been issued.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 14 – Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko on Tuesday vowed to appeal the ‘Justice for Liz’ case to have the sentence of the three people convicted reviewed upwards from a total of 22 years.
He said the sentences were lenient in comparison to the torture the three convicts exposed the young girl to during the gang rape by six men.
“We feel that the sentence imposed is inordinately lenient and fails to adequately reflect the nature and gravity of and the horrific circumstances under which the offences were committed and the magnitude of the harm suffered by the victim,” Tobiko explained.
“In the circumstances, my office shall seek enhancement of the sentence.”
READ: Kenya ‘grass cutter’ gang rapists jailed for 15 years
The accused were jailed for 15 years for rape and seven for assault, making a total of 22 years.
Tobiko also expressed disappointment that three other co-accused persons had not been apprehended even after warrants of arrest had been issued.
He explained that numerous orders and directives to the police for their arrest had been made yet the case had progressed so far without their arrest.
‘Liz’ finally got justice after a local and international campaign dubbed ‘Justice for Liz’ demanded for the prosecution of the men initially punished to cut grass after being found guilty of the rape charges.
READ: Protests mount over inaction for raped ‘Liz’
The young girl from Western Kenya was raped by six men after which the suspects were made to cut grass at a police station as punishment.
The case was picked up by local and international media attracting attention that garnered 1.8 million signatures in a petition on social media calling for review of the case.
On Monday, a Kenyan court overruled the grass cutting punishment initially given to the three men and convicted them to 22 years in jail after they were found guilty of gang raping the girl.
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