Senior Resident Magistrate court sitting at Chigodi Primary School in Lilongwe, has convicted and sentenced 40-year-old Village Headman Mlondora to 20 years imprisonment for defiling a 13-year-old girl.

Spokesperson for Lilongwe Police Hastings Chigalu has identified the convict as Village Headman Mlondolara whose real name is Pitilosi Khote.

According to Chigalu, the convict committed the offence in June 2023 in a garden where the girl was sent by her parents to source pumpkin leaves for relish

A couple and another person caught the traditional leader in the act and rushed to rescue the girl but this made the village headman furious and he threatened to deal with them.

In court, the Village Headman pleaded not guilty to the offence of having sexual intercourse with a female child saying he never ejaculated on the girl, but other evidence led to his conviction.

Passing his sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda, quashed some mitigating factors saying at 40 years, the convict was older enough to know the consequences of having carnal knowledge of a child under the age of 18.

Khote asked for the court’s leniency in its sentencing, saying he is a first time offender, has family responsibilities and that he is diabetic.

The sentencing took place close to the village where he committed the offence on open

ground.