The First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Chitipa has sentenced a 30-year-old witch doctor Manifesto Silwimba to 10 years imprisonment for abducting and defiling two siblings in the district.

Police told the court that in November 2021, the convict abducted two sisters aged 12 and 14 from their home, Mambwe Village in Traditional Authority Mwaulambia in the district to Wiliro Trading Center in Karonga where he forcefully slept with them for over four months.

Deputy spokesperson for Chitipa Police Rabson Mkandawire said Silwimba pleaded not guilty to charges leveled against him.

“This prompted the state to parade four witnesses who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt,” said Mkandawire.

The crimes contravene Section 78(1) of the Child Protection and Justice Act of 2010 and Section 138(1) of the Penal Code.

Passing the judgement, first grade magistrate Maston Phiri sentenced Silwimba to seven years imprisonment for abduction and 10 years for defilement. The sentences will run concurrently.