The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s (SRM) Court has convicted and sentenced a 44-year-old man, Always Chiyembekezo to serve a jail term of 21 years for having sexual intercourse with a step daughter who is a minor.
The Court heard through Sub Inspector Kephas Mwangonde that the convict had sexual intercourse with the girl multiple times, from November and December 2021 in different places including their own bedroom, intimidating her never to reveal and come out of the compound for school or any social gathering.
Sub Inspector Kephas Mwangonde, further told the court that at first the convict started caressing the young girl of her breasts while the mother was away. And in November the convict send other children out to buy kamba puffs creating space to defiled her.It is recorded that the convict developed it as culture until the day the girl got tired of it and sought guidance from neighbors who advised to report the same to her mother. After reporting to her mother, the girl could not find an escape route as she was advised to accept the sexual advances and sleep with him.
However, being not convinced she informed her peers about the ordeal who promised to help out.But unfortunately when her friends came to visit her the convict beat them up.
Coincidentally they exposed the step Father to a pastor whom they met along the way as they cried.This led the pastor to inform police prompting his arrest.
Arraigned in Court, he pleaed not guilty prompting the state to parade 7 witnesses who testified against him However, during mitigations, he asked for leniency for being the first offender.
In submission, Sub Inspector Kephas Mwangonde asked for a stiffer penalty, citing that the convict was supposed to be the first to protect the victim and other girls in the community but he took advantage of her hence the need of imposing meaningful sentence as a lesson to him and other would-be offenders.
Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda concurred with the state and ordered him to serve a 21 year jail term as a deterent sentence.
Always Chiyembekezo hails from Mangulu Village Traditional Authority Nsanama in Machinga .
Sub-Inspector Precious Mavuto Phiri
PRO-Kawale Police Station
Cell:0995873467/0884024149