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The High Court sitting in Nkhata-Bay District, has convicted and sentenced 43 year old man to to 30 years imprisonment with hard labour and 30 year old man to 35 years imprisonment with hard labour for defilement.
Public relations officer for Nkhata Bay Police station Sergeant Kondwani James has identified the convicts as Bawo Chirwa and Amos Chirwa respectively.
In the first case, prosecutor Sergeant Martha Chingwalungwalu told the court that, during the month of June, 2022 Chirwa met the victim(7-year old girl) while passing by a certain church.
He dragged her into the church where he defiled her.
Similarly in the second case, prosecutor Sub Inspector Chikondi Lipato told the court that Amos Chirwa defiled the 3-year-old girl on August 5, 2022 in Mundiyeye Village, Traditional Authority Fukamapiri in the district.
He took advantage and defiled the little one when she visited her grandmother who is a neighbor to the accused person.
Both incidents were separately reported at Chintheche Police Post who issued the victims referral letters to Chintheche Rural Hospital and the results indicated that both were defiled.
Appearing in court, both accused pleaded not guilty but evidences from witnesses including medical personnel from Chintheche Rural Hospital, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
In mitigation both convicts prayed for lenient punishments saying they are bread-winners to their families.
In their submissions both prosecutors pleaded with the court for custodial sentences citing that sexual malpractices are becoming rampant despite efforts at all levels to curb them.
Passing sentences Justice Gladys Gondwe concurred with the state.
She therefore sentenced Bawo Chirwa to 30-years and Amos Chirwa to 35-years imprisonment with hard respectively. Sentences to run effectively from the date of arrest.
Bawo Chirwa hails from Kachande Village while Amosi Chirwa comes from Mundiyeye Village both in Traditional Authority Fukamapiri in Nkhata Bay District.
