Court Sentences Woman to 42 Months in Prison for Concealing Birth

Liwonde Second Grade Magistrate Court has sentenced a 20-year-old woman to 42-months imprisonment with hard labour for concealing birth of a child which is contrary to section 232 of the penal code.

Machinga police station public relation officer Constable Davie Sulumba has identify the convict as Patuma Laison who hails from Mchika Village in the area of Traditional Authority Nyambi in Machinga District.

Police prosecutor Constable Gift Kalamula told the court that during dawn hours of 26th June 2018, Mrs Asiyatu Mailosi heard a baby crying from a nearby garden. When she went there, she found a newly born baby girl dumped in the garden.

“The matter was reported to Nselema Police and the baby was rushed to Nyambi Health centre for further assessment and care who was later referred to Machinga District Hospital where she died while receiving treatment,” said the prosecutor.

Police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect and When taken before court she pleaded guilty and convicted on her own plea of guilty.

In mitigation she asked the court for lenient punishment for she has a 3 year old son whom she looks after therefore sending her to prison will make her son suffer since her husband divorced her in 2014.

In his submission Kalamula asked the court to give the convict a stiffer punishment since offences of such nature are becoming common in the area and prayed to the court for an immediate custodial sentence regardless that she is the first offender.

When Passing Judgement His Worship Second Grade Magistrate Philip Chibwana concurred with the state therefore sentenced her to 42 Months imprisonment with hard Labour.