Mulunguzi First Grade Magistrates’ Court in Zomba has convicted and sentenced a 23-year-old man, Micheal Malinda to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for abducting and sodomizing a six-year-old boy.

State Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Evelyn Mtenje told the court that on 13th March, 2020 the victim who stays at Kazembe Village within the City of Zomba went to play with his friends and did not return home.

His parents searched for him the whole night but could not find. The victim was later found the following day after spending a night out and upon being interviewed, the boy revealed to have been abducted and sodomized by the accused at his home.

The suspect was arrested on March 16, 2020 at the same village. When he appeared before the court, the accused pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him and the court convicted him.

In submission before sentence, Sub Inspector Mtenje asked the court to give the convict a stiffer sentence considering the seriousness of the offence.

Mtenje said the victim was traumatized, hence the need to give the convict a stiffer custodial sentenceto serve as a lesson to the convict and other would-be offenders.

Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Chrispine Sachuluka concurred with the state saying the victim was really traumatized.

He, therefore, sentenced Malinda to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour for sodomy and 5 years for abduction.

The sentences will run concurrently. Malinda hails from Dzaone Village, Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba district.

Source : MANA