A 26 year old man in Blantyre has been sentenced by the court to serve 12 years imprisonment with hard labor after it found him guilty of defilement of a minor.
Inspector Edna Mzingwitsa , Ndirande Police Public Relations Officer said the Blantyre Central Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced Zachariah Sitima for defiling a 13 year old girl.
Inspector Chimenya further told the court that on the stated date, Sitima invited the girl to his house where he pulled her into his bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her.” Explained Mzingwitsa
Mzingwitsa said the convict threatened the girl not to reveal anything to anyone.
“The court further heard that three months later, the victim’ s parents noticed physical changes in her. After quizzing her she revealed to have been defiled by Zachariah Sitima in October. On January 29, 2020 her mother took her to South Lunzu Police Unit where she was issued a medical report. She was taken to South Lunzu Health Centre where the results proved that she had been defiled and was 3 months pregnant.” Disclosed Inspector Mzingwitsa
According to Mzingwitsa, the suspect was arrested on the same day was charged with a case of defilement.
Mzingwitsa said Zachariah pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement contrary to section 138 of the Penal Code but pleaded for leniency because he has a family to take care of.
“In her submission, state prosecutor Inspector Chimenya asked the court for a stiff sentence to deter other would be offenders.
Before passing sentence, Resident Magistrate Husein Ibrahimu agreed with the state and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour to send a signal to would be offenders.” Disclosed Mzingwitsa
According to Mzingwitsa, the magistrate noted that of late the cases of defilement were rampant and the only way of stopping others from doing the same was to slap the convict with stiffer punishment.
Zachariah Sitima hails from Kasamiza Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chanthunya in Balaka District.
BeyondFM
