Court in Rumphi has convicted and sentenced fresh graduate from Mzuzu University, Francis Kagoma aged 26, to 10 and half years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling and impregnating a 15 year old girl.

The court heard that Kagoma defiled the girl in June 2023 at Kazuni in Mzimba district.

Passing sentence, first Grade magistrate Cuthbert Phiri told the convict that he expected the offender to be amongst those in the forefront in protecting a girl child hence the punishment which will serve as a lesson to other would be offenders.

Kagoma comes from Chendausiku, under Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka district.