Mwanza First Grade Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced a 36-year-old man to 9 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his 14 old step daughter.
Mwanza Police Station Public Relations Officer Edwin Kaunda identified the convict as Paul Macholongo who was sentenced on Wednesday, 11 July 2018.
The police prosecutor Inspector Dovico Makawa told the court that in 2015, the accused married a 35-old woman who already had three children which amongst them was the victim.
“In 2016, Paul started coaxing the first born daughter (the victim) of his wife to be having sexual intercourse with him. The girl succumbed to the pressure and allowed the step father to be having sexual intercourse with her,” said the prosecutor.
As time passed by, the girl decide to inform her mother what was happening between them and the mother reported the matter to Group village headman Tambala in the district who advised her to report to police.
Police investigation led to the arrest of the culprit.
Appearing in court, the police prosecutor summoned three witnesses who testified against the accused.
The prosecutor asked the court to pass a stiff punishment to the accused as to deter other would be offenders.
However in mitigation, the accused pleaded with the court for leniency but His Worship Chikhadzula dismissed his plea saying that people like Paul have no space in society as he deserved a longer jail term to protect other young girls.
He then sentenced him to 9 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Paul hails from from Njazo village TA Kanduku in Mwanza.
