Four out of six commercial sex workers are in Police custody in Mzuzu for sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy to the extent of infecting the boy with STIs.

Northern Region Police Publicist, Sergeant Maurice Chapola confirmed of the arrest and identified the suspects as Zainabu Mkawa 37, Martha Mlenga 22, Ellen Pemba 31 and Zainabu Musa 34.

According to Chapola, the incident happened in Masasa , a residential area in the city. The said women allegedly assaulted the boy sexually repeatedly from July this year to early September.

“We have opened files for the case, and these women have been charged with defilement .

“This started when guardians of the boy went to their home village, and he started patronizing a nearby drinking joint where six commercial sex workers started defiling him,” said Chapola.

Chapola also revealed that two of the six suspects are at large and police has since launched a man-hunt.

A Mzuzu-based children rights organization has condemned the abuse saying they are expecting justice to prevail.