The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Mangochi district has sentenced a 32-year-old man to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 15-year-old girl.
Mangochi Police Station Public Relations Officer Rodrick Maida says the court identified the man as Twaibu Pondani from Makhasu village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district.
According to Maida, the court, through State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Regina Makwinja heard that the convict is a neighbor to the victim and he used to chat with her and took an advantage to defile the girl twice.
“She further told the court that the matter came to light in January this year when the mother of the girl noticed some changes in the appearance of the girl,”
“Upon being quizzed, the girl revealed to have been defiled twice by Pondani who also accepted the responsibility of the pregnancy,” Maida said.
Appearing before court, Pondani pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code.
In mitigation, Pondani asked the court for leniency, saying he acted ignorantly.
In his submission, State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Makhwinja prayed for stiff sentence, citing the conduct of the convict is uncalled for.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Nkhono concurred with the state hence slapped him with 10 years imprisonment with hard labour to deter other would be offenders.
