The Principal Resident Magistrate court sitting at Lilongwe has convicted and sentenced Thokozani Charles, 24, to 21 years imprisonment for raping a 27-year-old woman he hoaxed on Facebook while hiding under a certain South African based rich man’s identity.
The convict, who is a street-clothing vendor along Area 49 road, extended his marriage proposals using a fake identity to Area 23 woman, just two weeks into their social media relationship.
Then the con artist, who claimed to be based in the Republic of South Africa, told the victim that he was finally back in Malawi, and asked for a favor from the woman, to assist him perform some charms that would make the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) release his three cars they seized due to a K19 million duty fee he failed to pay.
Then changing his identity again, in the name of a maid claimed to have been sent by the said business mogul, on 26 September 2024 Charles took the victim to a certain lodge in Area 50 where he made her to touch the so called charms. He then threatened the victim that if she refused to comply to anything he demanded as per rituals requirement, she would become mad or die.
While taking videos of the sexual encounter which he later shared to his friends, Charles raped the victim for three times, saying the rounds symbolized the number of cars (three) he claimed the MRA seized.
He then took the victim to Bingu National Stadium at around 19:00 hours where, while doing other rituals, the convict stole two cellphones from the victim and fled the scene.
In court, Charles pleaded guilty to both charges of rape and theft.
He then mitigated for leniency saying he is an orphan, and was doing driving lessons.
In her submission, Sub Inspector Florence Mlanje of Lilongwe Police Station, asked for the maximum jurisdiction sentence of the court, 21 years, citing the seriousness of the offences.
