The First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Chitipa has sentenced a 22-year-old Joseph Kaonga to 14 years imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old Standard 5 girl.

The court heard through prosecutor Samuel Ndafewa that Kaonga had sexual intercourse with the victim for three times in a bush, during the night of September 18, 2024 and gave her a packet of biscuit, energy drink and K2 200 so that she should not reveal to anybody about the matter.

However, the matter was reported to Chitipa Police Station and the suspect was arrested and charged with the offence of having sexual intercourse with a female child contrary to Section 138 (1) of the Penal Code.

Appearing before court, Kaonga pleaded not guilty, prompting the State to parade three witnesses who testified against him.

The prosecutor asked the court to give a stiffer sentence saying the offence is a felony, attracting a maximum of life imprisonment. He also submitted that the convict is dangerous to society and needed to be separated from society.

While passing the sentence, first grade magistrate Billy Ngosi concurred with the State saying such cases impose permanent psychological trauma on the victims.

Kaonga hails from Sambala village, Senior Chief Mwaulambia in the same district.