Mangochi Senior Resident Court Convicts Mhone

A 28 year old woman, Monica Mhone has been sentenced to 6 months community service for locking-up her one year and 11 months old child in the house.

During the proceedings on Wednesday, Prosecutor Sub Inspector Maggie Chibulire of Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s court said the woman who is the sex worker at Madeco area, during the night hours of March 10 locked up her child and went for business

She said one of the neighbors forcibly opened the door after she heard a child crying uncontrollably and reported the matter to police after staying with the child for three days without knowing the whereabouts of her mother

The nursing mother, Monica handed herself to the police after she found out that the police were looking for her.

Monica pleaded not guilty to the charge of locking up a child from the statements of the two witnesses who testified against her.

Monica asked the court during mitigation for mercy that she takes care of other children who will have problems and suffer if she goes to prison.

Chibulire, the persecutor asked for custodial sentence while justifying that what Monica did was wrong for leaving her three days without breast-feeding and that life was at stake.

Mhone was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment with hard labour but it was suspended to 6 months community service at Koche Health Centre in the same district.

The convict has started serving the punishment at the Health Centre which is being supervised by the health practitioners.

Monica comes from Kapoto Village, T/A Fuka  in Nkhata-bay district.