The Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe has sentenced two men to 21 years imprisonment with hard labor for defiling a 14-year-old girl with cognitive disabilities.
Lingadzi Police spokesperson Maria Kumwenda identified the convicts as Charles Ngalawesa, 26, and Yamikani Samuel, 19.
According to the court, the incident occurred on March 15, 2024, when the victim’s mother became concerned after her daughter failed to return home by 5 PM. Following inquiries, she learned that her daughter had last been seen with Ngalawesa.
Despite efforts to locate the child, she was only found the next day locked in Samuel’s house.
Presenting the case in court, Sub Inspector Pilirani Mpinganjira, representing the state, highlighted the gravity of the crime and urged the court to impose a stiff sentence.
Although the convicts pleaded for leniency, citing that it was their first offense, Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state and imposed the 21-year sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime.
Ngalawesa hails from Makokola Village, Traditional Authority Chigalu in Blantyre, while Samuel is from Mbonela Village, Traditional Authority Chiwere in Dowa.