Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has sentenced a 20 year-old man Sheikh Umali Janna to 18 years imprisonment for defiling an 8 year-old girl.

The court heard through state prosecutor Inspector Humphreys Harrison Makhaliha that during the early month of October 2022, Sheik Umali who is also a madras teacher at Kawale 2 Mosque has been defiling the girl at his house.

According to Makhaliha, Jannah has been telling the victim that she is beautiful and would be his wife.One day after classes, he sent the victim to put madras books in his house and as she was going, the man followed her and defiled her but warned her not to tell anyone as she would be killed if she does so.

The ordeal continued for the second and third time until she got annoyed and pleaded with her mother to change her to another madras school. When asked by her mother the reason behind, the girl revealed what her teacher had been doing to her.

Upon hearing this, the mother reported to Kawale Police Station where the law enforcers sent them to Kamuzu Central Hospital for examination and treatment. Following positive examination results, Police arrested Jannah.

Appearing in court the man pleaded not guilty and the state paraded five witnesses who testified against him.

Although Janna called four defence witnesses, the magistrate was satisfied with state evidence and consequently convicted Jannah.

In his submission, prosecutor Makhaliha prayed for a stiff sentence by reminding the court that the offense is serious in nature and attracts a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. He also added that sexual cases are rampant and the life of a girl child is at risky.

Makhaliha further said as a man of God and teacher the convict was trusted by the victim’s parents but decided to defile the child which is immoral, pathetic and shameful saying through the act, the child has been traumatized for the rest of her life.

In his mitigation, Jannah asked for leniency as he was a first offender and that he is young.

But passing the sentence, Magistrate Madalitso Khoswe Chimwaza concurred with the prosecutor and sentenced Jannah to 18 years Imprisonment with hard labour to reform him and deter other would be offenders.

Umali Jannah is 20 years old  hails from Nakaona Village, Traditional Authority Kasumbu in Dedza District.