Malawi child trafficker gets two years prison: Magistrate Viva Nyimba opts for custodial sentence

Child trafficker Mateyu Sali Kuchepa, 40, who was convicted by Blantyre Magistrate Court has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for each of the nine counts of child trafficking which he was answering.

Senior resident magistrate Viva Nyimba ruled that Kuchepa will serve the sentence concurrently because the offences were committed as part of the same transaction.

However, lawyer representing Kuchepa, Yasini Domasi of YD Attorney, has indicated an interest to lodge an appeal at the High Cpurt against the sentencing.

Kuchepa was answering nine counts of child trafficking following his arrest at Wenela Bus Depot in Blantyre last month after Blantyre Police arrested him as he was trying to take 21 children fromMozambique to work in tobacco estates in Mangochi.

Magistrate Nyimba pointed out that according to Section 79 of the Child Care Protection and Justice Act, a person who takes part in any transaction the object or one of the objects of which is child trafficking commits an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment for life.

He said for the purpose of the section, child trafficking means the recruitment, transaction, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for purposes of exploitation and the nine children, in their testimony to the court, alleged that the convict took part in recruiting and transferring them through a vehicle from Chinyama to Chinakanaka by way of a minibus from Chinakanaka to Wenela Bus Depot.

Kuchepa was arrested at Wenela Bus Depot in Blantyre on July 29 2015.