TWO MEN HAVE been engaged in a debate as to what age the law states that a young girl can consent to have sexual intercourse.
One insists that the age of consent is 14 years, while the other is saying that the law was amended some years ago and the age of consent increased to 16 years.
"It is very important to me to find out what is the right age that a girl can consent," the man said.
"My friend is insisting that the age is 14, but I remember, although somewhat vaguely, that the age was increased to 16. I remember when it was increased that I was somewhat happy because it was always my contention that a girl of 14 was too young to have sexual intercourse," he said.
"On the other hand, my friend is adamant that the age is 14. I have been warning him to be careful that he does not end up on the wrong side of the law, because if he is involved in an affair with a girl of 14, he can be arrested and charged. This is the reason I would like to know the age of consent so I can once and for all settle the issue with my friend," he said.
The age of consent is 16 years and there are stiff penalties for persons who are convicted of having sexual relationships with girls under the age of 16.
Section 50 of the Offences Against the Person Act states "Whosoever shall unlawfully and carnally know and abuse any girl being above the age of twelve years and under the age of sixteen years shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and being convicted thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years."
It is further stated in the act that a young man who is charged under the relevant section of the act and who reasonably believes that a girl is over the age of 16, can use that as his defence.
"Provided that in the case of a man of twenty-three years of age or under, the presence of reasonable cause to believe that the girl was over the age of sixteen years shall be a valid defence on the first occasion on which he is charged with an offence under this section," section 50 of the act states.
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