The First Grade Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has yesterday on 28 October 2024, suspended a ten-month prison sentence for Tendai “10May” Malata, citing it as his first offense.

Malata who is social media attention seeker and influencer was found guilty of defaming Ms. Triephornia Thomson Mpinganjira through a social media platform, a charge he admitted to.

In delivering the ruling, Magistrate Amran Phiri emphasized that Malata must refrain from committing similar online defamation offenses for the next 18 months.

Furthermore, the court ordered “10May” to remove all defamatory posts related to the complainant and to issue a public apology to Ms. Mpinganjira for three consecutive days.

The court’s decision balances the importance of upholding digital decorum with leniency for a first-time offender.

10 May who also a brother to Malawi’s coolest kid artist Quest Mw, was arrested on 25 October this year and following his arrest, her mother issued an apology letter to the victim.