A first-grade magistrate’s court in Balaka has convicted and sentenced 43-year-old Village Headman Mbodzole to 14 years Imprisonment with Hard Labor (IHL) for defiling a 14-year-old girl.
State prosecutor, Sub Inspector Liston Sabola told the court that village head Mbodzole, his name Steven Petulo committed the offence in January 2020.
The state paraded five witnesses after the village headman pleaded not guilty.
Sub inspector Sabola asked the court for a meaningful custodial sentence saying as a community leader, he was supposed to be exemplary in protecting children from abuses.
First Grade Magistrate Phillip Chibwana found Mbodzole guilty and concurred with the state for a meaningful custodial sentence thereby granting him 14 years IHL for contravening Section 138 (1) of the Penal Code.
