Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Defiling Minor in Chikwawa

Malawi-Chikwawa First Grade Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced Yohane Charles, 20, to 13 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 15-year-old minor, writes Comfort Bulangete.

Chancy Mfune, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Chikwawa Police Station, said, "The court, through state prosecutor Superintendent Ian Ntaba, heard that Charles, on the night of December 25, 2022, saw the victim with her friends coming from Christmas celebrations.”

She started chasing them and managed to catch the victim, dragging her into the bush where he defiled her."

Mfune further said that "the matter was reported to the Makhuwira Police Unit where the victim was referred to Livunzu Health Centre, where they confirmed the defilement."

Charles pleaded not guilty to the charge levelled against him, which made the state parade six witnesses who proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt, and he was found guilty.

In his submission, Superintendent Ntaba prayed for a stiffer sentence, arguing that the offence committed is serious.

In mitigation, the convict pleaded for leniency, saying that he has a family and children to look after.

Making the ruling, First Grade Magistrate Joram Zebron concurred with the state and sentenced Charles to 13 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Zebron added that the sentence should act as a lesson to other would-be offenders.

Yohane Charles hails from Thopholani village, Traditional Authority Makhuwira in Chikwawa district.