Lilongwe Magistrate Court Wednesday sentenced Patrick Misoya, 24 to 14 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) for defiling a seven-year-old child which is Contrary to Section 138 (1) of the Penal Code.
According to Spokesperson for Lingadzi Police Station, Salome Zgambo, the court held through State Prosecutor, Inspector Grace Mafosha that in 2019, Misoya who used to work at the victim’s house as a house boy.
“On February 23, 2020, the victim’s mother reported the case to Police that Misoya defiled the young girl twice in different occasions and threatened the victim not to reveal the ordeal to anyone,” she explained.
Mafosha told the Court that what the accused person did was inhuman and the victim was abused physically and psychologically hence pleaded for stiffer punishment.
In mitigation, Misoya pleaded with the Court for lenience saying that it was work of the devil that compelled him to commit the offence.
Misoya told the Court that he has learnt his lesson that’s why since last year; he has never defiled the victim again.
Patrick was convicted and sentenced on his own plea of guilty.
First Grade Magistrate, Shaireen Yonah Chirwa said cases of defilement are on a rise in the country such that if the court becomes lenient to such people, the malpractice would not stop.
She slapped Misoya to serve 14 years IHL to deter others would be offenders.
Misoya hails from Nalikozi Village in the Area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mulolo in Mulanje District.
In related development, the same Court sentenced Solomon Kaliati, 36, to five years’ IHL for indecently assaulting a four-year-old girl.
The Court heard through State Prosecutor, Inspector Grace Mafosha that on August 3, 2020 Solomon indecently assaulted the girl.
Solomon pleaded guilty to the charge leveled against him.
First Grade Magistrate, Diana Mangwana said the intention of the accused person was to defile the victim hence slapped him with five years IHL.
Kaliati hails from Mtambalika Village in the area of TA Njolomole in Ntcheu district.
