First Grade Magistrate Court in Mangochi has convicted and sentenced a 25 year old Madalitso James to eight years imprisonment with hard labor for defiling a 2 year old minor.

Police deputy spokesperson Sergeant Amina Daudi said that the convict committed the crime on October 11th this year after kidnapping the minor and was discovered by the mother of the victim when she was coming out of Jame’s house looking troubled and having difficulties in walking. This made the mother to ask the child what really happened in the house and the child revealed that James had defiled her.

The mother told the court that after checking her child’s private parts she found bruises and traces of semen. The matter was reported to Mangochi Police Station where medical report was issued and the results from Mangochi District Hospital confirmed that she was defiled.

The convict pleaded not guilty and produced 5 witnesses who testified against him before the First Magistrate Court verdict.

Before the sentence, Sub Inspector Maxwell Mwaluka pleaded with the court to impose custodial sentence since such cases are still recurring despite Government and other stakeholders fighting for the protection of girls from different forms of abuse.

First Grade Magistrate Ronald Mbwana found James guilty, and sentenced him to 8 years’ imprisonment with hard labour in order to acts as deterrent to others would be offenders.

Madalitso James comes from Chomba village in the area of Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi district.