Malomo First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Ntchisi District has sentenced  Kumbukani Banda, 22, to five years imprisonment for defilement.

Delivering the sentence on Wednesday, first grade magistrate Dorothy Kaluba said Banda was found guilty of being in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl, who is under the age of consent.

Zgambo: The issue came to light when the victim went missing

Banda pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against him.

In an interview, Ntchisi Police spokesperson Salomy Zgambo said Banda pleaded for leniency, claiming ignorance of the law and that he was planning to marry the girl this year.

“But the prosecutor Sergeant Virginia Kasiya told the court that the issue came to light when the victim went missing for two days in December and was later found at Banda’s house. Kasiya pleaded with the court to mete out a stiffer punishment to the convict in order to deter would-be offenders of similar crimes,” she said.

In its submission, the State reminded the court that such cases are becoming rampant in the district; hence, the need for a maximum sentence.

Kaluba concurred with the State that the girl-child needs to be protected at any cost and that ignorance of law is not a defence, hence the five-year sentence. 

Banda comes from Chisamba Village, Traditional Authority Kawamba in Kasungu District.

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