Malawi teacher jailed for defiling pupil

A 30-year-old primary school teacher, Simeon Jericho has been jailed to 2 years for defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old standard seven learner at Nagwira Primary school in Central Region district of Dowa.

The case was heard by the  Mponela First Grade Magistrate Court in Diwa District.

The court heard that in July this year the convict, who was dating the pupil, sent her to deliver books to standard seven class at a time all the pupils had knocked off.

Police Prosecutor Patrick Chipotle told the court that the  teacher followed her and had sex.

He said two months later her parents suspected that their daughter was pregnant and the victim revealed that the teacher was responsible.

“When the teacher was asked, he accepted responsibility and promised to marry her. This upset the parents and they reported the matter to Mponela Police Station.

The police prosecutor asked for stiffer penalty  as the teacher has breached public trust while the learner’s future is doomed.

“The teacher was supposed to protect the girl and not abuse her. I would call for a stiffer custodial sentence  to serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders,” he said.

In mitigation, Jericho pleaded with the court to be lenient as the incident would automatically make her lose his job, is the first offender and that he is breadwinner for his family.

First grade magistrate Yohane Nkhata said meted out the 48 months imprisonment after considering the mitigating factors.

” Most girl pupils die in silence due to teachers of this calibre,” he observed.

The convict hails from Mdavyola village in the area of traditional authority Msakambewa in Dowa.

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