Seven men in Kasungu district aged between 29 and 54 have been dragged to court for sexually abusing a 17-year-old mentally challenged girl.

The suspects had appeared in court on 10 April for charges of Defilement of an Imbecile contrary to section 139 of the penal code and are expected to re-appear in court for the completion of the case.

Kasungu Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Harry Namwaza identified the seven suspects as Sekani Mwale, 26, Kamboni Chirwa, 40, Wellings Banda, 52, Simeon Chirwa, 29, Manford Phiri, 54, Robert Banda aged 50 and Simeon Nkhoma aged 46.

According to Namwaza, the men have been defiling the standard 7 pupil between January 2017 and March 2018.

“During that period, the suspects used to go to the victim’s grandparent’s home to drink locally brewed Kachaso beer. In the process, they used to take advantage of the victim’s mental state and give her money with an intention of fulfilling their sexual desires”, said Namwaza.

Some community members got to know of the news and reported it to Nkhamenya police station where after an investigation, the suspects were apprehended.

Meanwhile, the seven have been remanded at Matchaya prison in Kasungu as they wait for another court session.