High Court Frees Man Convicted of Defilement Over Lower Court Irregularities
Published on April 1, 2026 at 4:09 PM by Evance Kapito
The High Court in Mchinji has acquitted Enerst Chimpeni, who was previously convicted of having sex with a minor.
Presiding over the case, Judge De Gabrielle ruled in favour of Chimpeni, citing anomalies in the proceedings of the lower court.
The court stated that the irregularities were significant enough to overturn the earlier conviction, leading to Chimpeni’s release.
In an interview with MIJ Online, State Prosecutor Dzikondianthu Malunda welcomed the ruling, saying it reflects that justice has been served.
Malunda further noted that Chimpeni may have been misled by the girl, who allegedly presented a National Identity Card indicating she was above 18 years old.
