The Senior Resident Magistrate court sitting at Mkukula in Dowa has convicted and sentenced a 30 year old man Lungile Banda to a 15 year jail term for having s3xual intercourse with a girl child.

The offence is contrary to Section 138(1) of the Penal Code.

The court heard through State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Kester Mame that on October 14,2023 Banda defiled a 13 year old Standard 5 primary school pupil at Mzikiti location in Kulamula village.

Sub Inspector Mame further told the court that Banda had instructed the victim to share him fried maize at his house. The victim acknowledged and Banda grabbed the victim into his house where he defiled her and was caught red handed in the act by his wife.

The court also heard that, the matter was reported at Lumbadzi Police Station where the victim was issued a medical form to Chinkhuti health centre. She was further referred to One Stop Centre at Kamuzu Central Hospital where it was certified that she was defiled.

In court, Banda pleaded guilty to the charge and asked the court for a lesser sentence citing that he is a breadwinner and first offender.

In his submissions, Prosecutor Mame prayed for a stiffer sentence citing that such offences are common in Lumbadzi and that the trauma left in the victim will remain for the rest of her life.

In his sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Montfort Misunje concurred with the state’s submissions and slapped Banda with a 15 year jail term with hard labour to deter other would be offenders.

Banda hails from Kulamula village, Traditional authority Chitukula in Lilongwe.