8 years IHL for s3xual intercourse with minors, burglary and theft in Mzimba

The First Grade Magistrate court sitting at Emfeni, Mzimba, on November 16, 2023 convicted and sentenced Pilirani Shaba, 25, to eight years imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with two minors, burglary, and theft at Kanjuchi in the district.

Presenting facts in court, the State through Sub Inspector Patrick Lungu, said that the convict (Shaba), on October 26, 2023 during midnight, broke into a certain house where he had sexual intercourse with two girls aged 14, and 15 years.

Lungu further said that the mother of the two girls was awakened, and screamed when the convict went into her bedroom in an attempt to also rape her.

When father to the victims woke up following the screaming of his wife, the convict scared the man by producing a knife before escaping the scene with a cellphone.

Appearing before court, Shaba, pleaded not guilty to all the counts he was facing, this prompted the State to parade five witnesses to prove the cases beyond reasonable doubt.

Surprisingly, when Shaba was given opportunity by the court to ask for anything including leniency, before the sentencing, the convict did not open his mouth for such.

However, State Prosecutor Lungu, asked for a stiffer punishment considering that the offences Shaba commited are not only rampant in the area, but also serious in nature.

Lungu further added that Shaba also committed the offences while the girls were asleep, and that he had a dangerous weapon (Knife) in his possession that threatened both the victims’ and parents’ lives.

Passing her sentence, First Grade Magistrate Loness Gumbo, concurred with the State and went on to slap Shaba with eight-year sentences imprisonment with hard labour for each count of having sexual intercourse with the two girls, six years for burglary, and a year for theft.

The sentences are to run concurrently.