Two men have been convicted and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate’s court for having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old mentally challenged girl.
The two are Charles Ngalawasa, 26, and Yamikani Samuel, 19.
Deputy Public Relations Officer for Lingadzi Police Station Constable Maria Kumwenda said the court heard through the state Prosecutor Sub Inspector Pilirani Mpinganjira that on 15th March, 2024 the mother of the victim returned home from her working place, only to discover that her daughter is missing and she was informed by her neighbor that they saw her daughter with Charles who took her to unknown destiny.
“She reported the matter to Lingadzi Police Station and on March 16th, 2024 the daughter was found locked in Yamikani’s house,” Kumwenda said.
In court, the duo were found guilty for the charges levelled against them and during mitigation, the convicts asked court to exercise leniency when passing sentence citing that they are first offenders.
“But in his submission, State Prosecutor Mpinganjira, prayed for a stiffer sentence as the offence committed is serious in nature which Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick michongwe concurred with hence his 21 years imprisonment sentence.