The First Grade Magistrate’s court sitting at Mponela, Dowa District on Tuesday April 19, 2022 sentenced Mwenye Phiri Nsadala 29 to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his 9 year-old niece.

The court through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Benedicto Mathambo heard that it all started in the month of October, 2021 when the convict grabbed the girl and defiled her in his house.

Thereafter, he gave the victim K100 in order for her not to reveal the ordeal.

Mathambo added that the suspect had been forcing himself on the girl every fortnight since October 2021, and after fulfilling his lust he used to give her money and sometimes buy her Kamba puffs.

Later the victim informed her primary schoolmates about what had been happening to her and it is her colleagues who tipped the class teacher.

The teacher reported the matter to a traditional leader of victim’s village and did not stop there but also reported the the matter to Saints Organization who also reported it to Mponela Police Station leading to the arrest of the suspect on March 14, 2022.

In court, Nsadala pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement which contravenes section 138 of the Penal Code forcing the state to parade four witnesses who testified against him.

Satisfied with the evidence, the court convicted him.

In submission, prosecutor Mathambo asked the court to give stiff punishment to the convict for him to learn and deter other would-be offenders.

First Grade Magistrate Talakwanji Mndala concurred with the state’s submissions and slapped the convict with 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.

The convict, Mwenye Nsadala comes from Kawamba Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mponela in Dowa District.