The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a 39-year old man to 16 years in prison for defiling his 13-year old stepdaughter.
The convict, Gracious Mbewe, was found guilty yesterday before Senior Resident Magistrate Shyreen Chirwa.
The court heard through State Prosecutor Inspector Isaac Banda that the convict defiled the child in November last year at Msundwe.
At that time, the victim’s mother left home for the garden, leaving the victim and her younger sister in the custody of the father.
Mbewe, however, deliberately sent the victim’s younger sister to the market to buy some mangoes.
He took an advantage and defiled the child, leading to his arrest.
In his trial, Mbewe pleaded not guilty, prompting the state to parade four witnesses.
Inspector Banda asked the court to hand out stiffer sentence saying the victim was greatly traumatized.
He also argued that cases of defilement are on the increase in Lilongwe.
In her determination, Magistrate Chirwa agreed with the state submission and ordered Mbewe to spend 16 years in jail.
She said this would send a strong warning to other would-be offenders.
Mbewe comes from Mkuwazi Village in Traditional Authority Maganga in Salima District.
Sergeant Foster Benjamin
Deputy Public Relations Officer
Lilongwe Police Station