Malawi court grants Asian defiler bail: Alleged to have sexually assualted teen girls
A 60-year-old Asian businessman accused and charged with aggravated defilement has been granted bail by the Zomba First Grade Magistrate’s Court.
Abdul Sattar Hassan was arrested by Police for allegedly sexually assaulting two Malawian girls under the age of 16.
The suspect has been charged on two counts. The first count is for defiling a 14-year-old girl which is contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code and the second count is of indecent assault of a 15-year-old girl which is contrary to Section 137 (1) of the Penal Code.
Police say the offences attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
State prosecutor Inspector Josephine Hlupekile Chigawa informed the court that the suspect, who is single and stays alone at his home, employed the two girls as housemaids.
“The 14-year-old girl came to Zomba City on 24th January 2013 to look for a job and was eventually employed by the accused person. He also employed another 15-year-old girl the following day.
“It was on the 26th of January 2013 when the accused called the 14-year-old girl to his bedroom where he defiled her. On the same day, the accused person also told the 15-year-old girl to fondle his private parts with her hands up to the point that the accused ejaculated. Gripped with fear, the two girls ran away from the house and reported the matter to Zomba Police Station,” the court heard.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail despite the State’s objection to the same.
Presiding over the matter, Magistrate Rosemary Liyawo noted the state did not indicate when it will bring its witnesses to the court. therefore granted bail and imposed various conditions.
The accused paid K50 000 bail bodn cash, surrendered all his travelling documents and two sureties of K100, 000 non-cash.
The court will commence hearing of the case on Friday, 1st February 2013.
Meanwhile, Zomba Police has intensified its effort to fight against cases of child abuse, as Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) is following up on the case and has supported the Police on the care of the victims while the court proceedings are underway.
Defilement remains one of the crimes worrying police and the nation at large as seven cases of sex attacks are reported every month across Malawi.
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