Sex assualt on step-daughter earns man 18 years jail term: Girl impregnated
The Blantyre Chief Resident Magistrates Court has convicted and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour Sosten Sipolo for defiling and consequently impregnating his 14-year-old step-daughter.
Sipolo 40, a resident of Chilobwe Township, was convicted after pleading guilty to the Defilement charge contrary to Section 138(1) of the Penal Code.
He committed the offence in the month of May this year and went into hiding after the matter was reported to police.
According to fact presented in court, Sipolo during the month of May defiled his step-daughter (name withheld) right in his house while his wife and the other child were out for prayers.
The victim had just sat for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examination.
State prosecutor, Inspector Victor Nachuma told the court that in July this year, the mother noticed some changes on the girl’s body and suspected she was pregnant.
And when she was interrogated, the victim revealed that she was once defiled by her step-father and was threatened not to tell anyone for she would be killed.
The matter was reported at Chilobwe Police station where the victim was referred to the hospital for examination, and the results confirmed she is indeed pregnant.
Sipolo had been on the run up until this month when he was arrested from where he was hiding.
On Wednesday he appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Reverend Peter Kandulu where he pleaded guilty to the offence.
In mitigation, Sipolo pleaded for leniency, claiming he was under the devil’s influence when he committed the offence and that he has the responsibility of looking after his family.
He pledged to take care of the victim and her mother who is also pregnant, once set free by the court.
However, Inspector Nachuma called for stiffer punishment, arguing as a step-father, Sipolo had a duty to protect the victim, and that the victim’s future is now affected because of the pregnancy.
Senior Resident Magistrate Reverend Peter Kandulu concurred with the State and slapped Sipolo with 18-year jail term.
Sipolo hails from Katsalam’bande village in Traditional Authority Somba in Blantyre district.
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