Jailed 16 years for sexual assault on girl, 11
The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Mzuzu has jailed a 30-year-old man to 16 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 11 old girl at Chibavi Township in August, 2013.
The Court heard that the convict Sadik Akimu of Mwichande Village, Traditional Authority Mponda, Mangochi District pounced on the standard 3 pupil when her grandmother was away.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Singini told the court that lured the girl into the houses on the pretext that he wanted to give her money to buy tomatoes for the relish she was preparing.
“But instead Akimu pulled the girl down and muffled the girl’s cries with a piece of chitenje while undressing her and later defiled her.
“Coincidentally when the convict was exiting the house, he was met by a woman neighbour who quizzed him on the whereabouts of the victim, but instead of answering he started running away. She called for help and the convict was captured,” Singini said.
During a trial spanning 8 months, Akimu pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement contrary to section 138 (1) of the Penal Code forcing the state to parade 6 witnesses who testified against him.
In mitigation, Akimu pleaded with the court to exercise leniency saying he was the sole breadwinner for his family and old parents.
However, Singini prayed with the court to mete out a deterrent sentence.
Senior Resident Magistrate Kondwani Banda concurred with the state bemoaning the increase of such cases in the city.
Banda said it is the duty of the Courts to protect the community from people like Akimu.
The sentence is effective from the date of his arrest.
In a related development the Zomba First Grade Magistrate court has sentenced 20 year old Dziwani Anifa to 8 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) for abducting and defiling a 14 year old primary school girl for three days in his quarters.
Zomba Police Deputy Spokesperson, Constable Emmanuel Kachingwe said the girl was abducted and defiled at the accused person’s home when the girl was coaxed on her way back home.
The Police Publicist however, said when passing the judgment, First Grade Magistrate Rosemary Liyawo said Anifa deserved to be punished because he had spoiled the integrity and future of the young girl and it was evident enough that it was not his first time to conduct himself in that way on top of having questionable behavior in the community according to evidence in the court.
Kachingwe said the Magistrate sentenced him to eight years Imprisonment with hard labour for the offence of abduction and nine months imprisonment for the offence of defilement to run concurrently to deter others from doing such immoral behavior in society.
Anifa hails from Kaliatimulonya Village, T/A Mwambo in Zomba district.
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