Malawi Police nab ex-MP for abduction, sex assault
Police in Malawi’s central district of Kasungu are keeping in custody a former Member of Parliament for allegedly abducting and defiling two under-aged girls.
The former parliamentarian, Rodgers Sithole, committed the crime last month and had been on the run until Thursday when he surrendered himself to the law enforcers.
Police said the 69-year-old former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentarian abducted two girls at Chatoloma Trading Centre where he operates his businesses and drove them to Mzuzu.
From there, the suspect proceeded to Nkhatabay where he is reported to have had fun with the young girls- aged 13 and 12- at one of the lakeshore resorts.
Sithole, who is the owner of the popular Mbapapi Private Secondary School at Chatoloma in Kasungu, is said to have expressed interest to marry the 13-year-old to add on to his 13 other wives.
Kasungu Police Spokesperson, Edwin Kaunda, said they had been hunting for Sithole since parents of the girls reported the issue to them.
He said from Nkhatabay the former MP drove the girls back to Kasungu and booked them at Nkhamenya Lodge where he defiled both of them as narrated by one of the girls to her granny.
“He has been on the run since last month when he committed the offence and handed over himself to us yesterday [Thursday],” said Kaunda.
The police publicist said the former law maker, who is allegedly on ARVs drugs, was expected to answer two charges of abduction and defilement.
Before committing his offence, the former MP was contemplating to contest again in Kasungu North North East in next year’s polls on MCP ticket. He served the area between 2004 and 2009.
Abduction is contrary to Section 259 of Penal Code and the charge draws a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment while defilement attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and is contrary to section 138 (1) of the penal code.
Sources said this is not the first time Sithole had been involved in such incidents but he uses his influential status in the area to duck the law. Two months ago, he was also engulfed in another incident when he eloped with 15-year-girl from the same area and hid her in Lilongwe.
And when the girl’s father wanted to report the matter to police his wife reportedly blocked her. It was later discovered the wife allegedly pocketed K30 000 from the ex-MP to shut her mouth.
However, people are reportedly anxiously following the issue to see what the police would do to the old man, whose conduct has become an issue of concern in the area.
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