Malawi Catholic priest jailed 17 years for sex abuse on girl, 15
A Roman Catholic Church priest has been jailed for 17 years by Zomba Senior Resident Magistrate Court after being convicted for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.
Father Numeri Mweta, 39, of Lisanjala Parish under Zomba Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church was Monday found guility and convicted of abduction, defilement and procuration of the 15-year-old girl.
Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe passing sentence on Thursday March 14 2019 imposed a lengthy custodial sentence for the priest.
He jailed Fr Mweta two years for abduction offence, five years for defilement and 10 years for procuration of the 15-year-old girl.
The sentences will run concurrently, ruled the court.
The court learnt that on July 19 to 21 2018, the girl went missing from her home and that on July 21 she went to her aunt’s home where she pleaded with her to seek forgiveness from her parents, revealing that during the days she was missing, she was with the priest.
The priest is said to have offered the victim’s father a bundle of K2 0000 banknotes to withdraw the case, bu the father rejected the offer.
In her testimony, the girl confessed that the relationship with the priest started in July 2018.
She said he rented her a house at Liwonde and later moved her to Balaka, Lilongwe and back to Zomba as she was pregnant and wanted the girl to be close to her parent’s home.
But in his defence, the priest said he was conviced that the girl was a grown-up as her national identity (ID) card indicated she was born on January 4 2001 contrary to her birth certificate which indicated she was born on January 4 2003.
Patrick Chambuluka who successfuly prosecuted the matter said he was pleased with the stiff punishment, saying as a priest, Mweta should have been preaching child protection.
Mweta’s lawyer, Timothy Chirwa, could not immediately comment if there will be an appeal.
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Eeee koma iwe amene ukuzitchula kuti MAPWIYA anakupasa pakamwa. Ukuyankhula ngati ndiwe mnjelo bwanji. Kulitu ansembe abwino dedicated to their calling and serving the people of God. Ndiye kuti iwe basi ukangowona wansembe aliyense wamuweruza kale? Iwe ndi mulungu? Your comments sucks. Galu
Wanena zoona mapwiya akulu! Vuto lake ndilimenelo, mumadana ndi chilungamo kuti mudzioneka oyera, pamene ndi inu ziwanda zokhazokha!!!
Mwanayu ndiwabodza lankunkhuniza. Iye amalolera bwanji kumupangira rent ku Liwonde, Balaka , Lilongwe mpaka ku Zomba? Izi zidali zogwirizana. Makolowo angofuna kuwapanga chipongwe abusa. Komaso abusa mwatichititsa manyazi ndi khalidwe lanu lonyasalo.
Too bad but the fact remains that the lady was once married and run away from the first marriage because of the father. The question to be asked is between the father and the husband who was supposed to be jailed?
Where are these people always commenting bad about Prophetic ministries? Come out
Gerald, they make such comments out of ignorance. Those of us in the Prophetic ministry know the truth. Make no mistake this case is embarrassing even to us in the prophetic. Vuto lopita ku ensembe as a form of employment and not a calling. Wina ndi uja Ali ku ndende because of an issue to do with killing a person with albinism.
Am not happy with the lenient sentence he has gotten.
Aaaaa Sembe ngakhare ndinu anthu ngati tonse koma mukutichitisa manyazi kwambiri. The church is in disrepute because of your behaviour. Just resign and mukakwatire. last 40 ndilimenero?
Wansembe ameneyu ndekuti masamu amamuvuta eti kulephera kuchotsera 2018-2001=17. Kunangotsa chaka chimodzi kuti kuti kadona kakeko kapatsidwe Sex Certificate.
Komatu azinzanga pano tidziwe ichi ansembe saletsedwa sex amaletsedwa kukwatira. Nzithu ziwiri zosiyana.
Mpingo wa Katolika uhule too much.?Mowa ndiye sinkhani. Ansembe kunamizira kuvala zoyera mkati muli mimbulu kunyenga akazi a eni ake kupha ma alubino kunyenga ma sisitere. I said already kuti Catholic si mpingo ai koma chilombo chotuluka munyanja .Read Revelation 7 and 12. I am very happy with this lengthy custodial sentence may be ena atengerapo lesson. Mpaka kumanena kuti mwanayo sanali mwana? Naye defense lawyer kumaimilira za utsiru ngati izi. Ansembe onse vulani mikanjo mukwatire basi osamamiza anthu
You have said it all…………….. i couldn’t have said it any better!
chilango chakula mpaka 17 yrs? anali armed robber?
The girl consented. She also lied about her age to the priest.
That wasn’t abuse. It was just a slip of the penis…….
Your name says it all.
I salute the magistrate. May God Bless you.
You are really Patriotic and honest.