Kasungu First Grade Magistrate Court has today,May 20, 2016 convicted and sentenced a 45 year old man identified as Samalani Banda to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 10 year old girl.

Presiding over the case, Kasungu First Grade Magistrate, His Worship Damiano Banda heard that during the month of May,2016, the victim was playing with friends at the convict’s home.

In the course of playing, the victim excused herself and went into the nearby bush to ease herself. Banda, who was around during this time saw the victim entering into the bush and followed her.

He tied the victim and defiled her. The victim reported the matter to her grandfather who immediately reported to Kasungu Police Station.

In court, Samalani Banda pleaded guilty to the charge of Defilement which is contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code.

In mitigation, Banda requested the court to be lenient with him when passing sentence because it was his first time to commit the offence.

His plea was quashed by the state through Sub Inspector Kamaliza, a police prosecutor based at Kasungu Police Station who told the court that, the way Samalani committed the offence just showed his inhumane character.

Kamaliza wondered how a responsible person like Samalani at 45 years could pounce on an innocent girl of 10 years,tied her and defiled her.

He called for the stiff sentence on Samalani that could suit his poisonous behavior and save the young girls from such moral decaying characters.

Before passing sentence, Damiano Banda concurred with Kamaliza and said people like Samalani deserved no mercy in the book of law so that others with the same behavior should be deterred. Damiano Banda then sentenced Samalani Banda to serve a 12 years jail term with hard labour.

Samalani Banda comes from Tambala village under Traditional Authority Njombwa in Kasungu district.