Chitipa First Grade Magistrate Court on Monday convicted and sentenced Austin Mwambene, 20, to 12 years imprisonment with hard labor (IHL) for defiling a 15 year old girl.

State prosecutor, Sub Inspector Fancy Sichali told the court that the suspect committed the offence on March 30, 2021 at around 6 o’clock in the evening at Ananiah Village in the area of TA Mwenemisuku in Chitipa.

“On this day, the suspect was at a drinking joint and the girl came to a nearby grocery. The suspect bought the girl some ‘kamba puffs’ worth K50 and started proposing love to the girl, to which she refused.

“The suspect then followed the girl when she was going home and before she reached home he dragged her to a nearby bush where he defiled her,” said Sichali.

The police prosecutor told the court that the victim’s father caught the suspect in the act as he was coming from the market, and he immediately reported the matter to police.

Appearing before court, the suspect pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement and in mitigation asked the court for leniency saying he is an orphan and he takes care of his grandmother.

State prosecutor Sichali asked the court for a stiff punishment to deter would be offenders saying defilement cases, which are contrary to section 138 of the penal code, are rampant in the district.

In his ruling, Magistrate Billy Ngosi said the convict had destroyed the girl’s reputation and caused her immense psychological trauma. He therefore sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment with hard labor.

Austin Mwambene hails from Ananiah Village T/A Mwenemisuku, Chitipa.