Man sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for defiling 9-year girl

Barely seven days after a man in Mzuzu was sentenced 16 years for defilement recently another man in the city was slapped with a14 year custodial sentence after being found guilty for sexually exploiting a 9-year old minor contrary to section 138(1) of the Penal Code.

The convict,Peter Phiri 54 of Chingu village in the area of traditional authority Khongoni in Lilongwe and father to the victim were neighbours at Kadekeshi area.

The court heard the girl was sent on an errand by her father to go and leave a cooking stick (mthiko) at Phiri’s place, that was where Phiri found a chance to defile her.

State Prosecutor Sergeant Clara Msiska told the court that another man found the convict red handed in the act.

Medical report obtained at Mzuzu Central Hospital indicated defilement took place.

Appearing in court the convict pleaded guilty.His mitigations for a lenient sentence were not entertained by the state which described the convict’s behaviour not only exploitative but also traumatizing.

Presiding First Grade Magistrate Sophie Chimaliro then sentenced the convict to 14 years IHL saying such people have no place in the modern world.