A 22 year-old man in Mangoch has been sentenced to a year and eight months imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for allegedly sleeping and impregnating his blood sister.
The court, through police prosecutor, Sergeant Regina Makwinja heard that the suspect identified as Saiti Issa had been sleeping with his 15-year-old biological sister leading to a conception.
According to Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Rodrick Maida, the court further heard that Issa and the victim (name withheld) who were born of the same biological mother but of different fathers were both staying with their grandmother at Mtenje Village in the area of Senior Chief Chimwala in Mangochi when the incident happened.
“In December, 2013 Issa started proposing love to her sister a thing she opposed to but later submitted due to pressure from the convict. Then they started having sexual intercourse until February, 2014 when their grandmother discovered that the victim was pregnant,” Maida explained.
He said when the granny pressed the girl she revealed that her brother was responsible for the pregnancy prompting the grandmother to report the matter to police who arrested the accused.
Issa is said to have pleaded guilty and admitted to the offense of incest which is contrary to Section 157 (1) of the Penal Code. However, in mitigation, he asked the court to exercise leniency when passing sentence claiming that he was tempted by the conduct of the victim.
But passing judgment, First Grade Magistrate Ronald M’bwana observed that Issa deserved a custodial sentence to act as a lesson to others harboring similar intentions.
