The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Balaka has yesterday on 20 August 2024 convicted and sentenced a 70-year-old man to 14 years imprisonment without hard labour for having sexual intercourse with a child.
Public Relations Officer for Balaka Police Station Gladson M’bumpha has confirmed the development and has identified the convict as Phutheya Galeta.
The court through state prosecutor Inspector Rodrick Kamuona heard that the convict, Phutheya Galeta, committed the offence during the month of June 2024 at Ngwalo Village in Balaka District where he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl.
It was further learnt in court that the victim is a step granddaughter to the convict.
State prosecutor Inspector Kamuona further told the court that the convict had sexual intercourse with the victim for two times in his bedroom where during the first time he gave the victim K3,000.00 and during the second time, he gave the victim K5,000.00 and this was happening when the victim’s grandmother was away for business issues.
The convict has been threatening the victim not to reveal the matter to her grandmother and risk being killed but after being fed up with the behaviour of the convict, the girl later revealed to her grandmother who in turn reported to the victim’s parents.
Appearing before court, the convicted admitted to have committed the offence and he was later found guilty for the offence of having sexual intercourse with a child contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code.
In his ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Nkhono concurred with the state’s submission for a stiff punishment to act as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.
However, Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Nkhono said the convict did not waste court’s time as he admitted to have committed the offence and that he is too old, he then convicted and sentence the convict to 14 years imprisonment without hard labour.
The convict, Phutheya Galeta, comes from Malula Village in the area of Traditional Authority Sawali in Balaka District.
