12 years jail for sex assault on step daughter

A 25 year old man, Justine Munyapa of Nakholo village, in traditional authority Mwambo, in Zomba has been handed a 12 year imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty of indecent assault of his step daughter.

The crime is contrary to Section 137 of the penal code.

Munyapa was accused of assaulting his step daughter, aged five, and appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate (SRM) Wyson Nkhata. He pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting the case, Josophine Chigawa told the Court that on March 8 2016 the man defiled the little girl when his wife had gone to fetch firewood.

The matter was revealed upon an inquiry by group of women after noting the girl had difficulties walking.

It was also revealed that the man had been doing that every time his wife had left the two at the house. A check at a private clinic confirmed the assault.

In his determination, the Magistrate pointed out that children look up to parents for protection. He therefore said he decided to jail Munyapa for failing to protect the child.

In an interview, Zomba police spokesperson Patricia Supliano said the police are happy that neighbors were inquisitive and assisted the little girl by taking her to hospital.

They even pursued the matter with Kachulu police, who refered the kid to Likangala Hospital for further medical attention.

“The police also commend the mother that she did not stand in the way of justice to stop prosecuting the accused for the sake of marriage as others do by pleading with the police or courts.

“We also ask parents to be giving attention to their kids and reporting to police when such nasty things happen,” said Supliano.

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