A 35-year-old secondary school teacher, John Kathewera, is in police custody in Dowa on allegation that he defiled a 15-year-old standard 8 learner.

Dowa Police Spokesperson Gladson M’bumpha said it is alleged that the suspect defiled the girl during the night of February 10 to February 11.

It is reported that the girl shares a room with her cousin and the room has a leaking roof.

On February 10 at around 23:00 hours it started raining and the mother decided to get her daughter and her cousin to sleep in another house, but the girl was not there.

The mother waited for her daughter until 04:00 hours of February 11 when she showed up.

Upon being asked, the girl told her mother that she was in the suspect’s house.

After the matter was reported to police, the victim was referred to Chankhungu Health Centre for examination and treatment and results show that she was defiled.