Tanzania, July 8 -- Arusha. A man who posed as a traditional healer to treat a mentally ill patient, only to rape his host's 15-year-old daughter, has failed to overturn his 30-year prison sentence.

The High Court, Mbeya Registry, dismissed Mr Derick Sichone's appeal and upheld the punishment.

The court ruled that testimonies from the victim, her mother, and the circumstantial evidence, including the girl being found with the appellant after vanishing for three days, proved all key elements of the rape offence.

The prosecution alleged that Mr Sichone arrived at the family's home, introducing himself as a traditional healer who could treat the victim's father.

However, instead of administering treatment, he left with the teenager. She ...