Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe has sentenced 39-year-old Kondwani Chitukula to 20 years imprisonment for defiling his 9-year-old granddaughter.

Chitukula is said to have committed the offense from January to February this year when the victim was staying with him and his wife in Lilongwe.

In mitigation, the victim prayed for leniency saying he is a first-time offender, but the presiding Magistrate disagreed with his mitigating factors describing the offense as one that attracts life sentence.

He then sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment.