Zomba, April 2: The Chief Resident Magistrates Court in Zomba on Thursday sentenced Jonathan Mkona and his wife Veronica Malikebu to five years and four years and two months imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) respectively for selling a 7 year old boy.
The offence of human trafficking contravenes Sections 82 (a) and 83 of the Penal Code and attracts a maximum penalty of ten years IHL.
Details reveal that the family of Mkona took the child (name withheld) from his wife’s home village in 2013, but earlier this month, businessman Joseph Samuel Kapinga approached the family to hunt for a human being for business.
Mkona offered the child at K350, 000 but Kapinga paid a deposit of K100, 000 instantly. Later on, Kapinga paid K250, 000 and the child was offered to him.
But uncle to the missing boy asked the family on how the boy was doing and was shocked to hear that the boy died a few months ago after a short illness.
The uncle reported the matter to Zomba Police and after investigations the family was arrested including the businessman, Kapinga.
And in court on Thursday, Mkona admitted the charge, confessed and apologized. He said poverty led him to sell the boy, while his wife Veronica said she acted out of illness.
When passing judgment, Acting Chief Resident Magistrate (ACRM) Jean Kaira ruled that Mkona should spend five years IHL, but gave his wife four years and two months IHL.
ACRM Kaira said the court had reduced the punishment because the two confessed and were first time offenders.
There was total silence in the courtroom when Senior Resident Magistrate Tamanda Nyimba read out the judgment.
The hearing attracted a large crowd, including business tycoons, civil society leaders and students from around the district.
The case against businessman Joseph Samuel Kapinga is ongoing.
Both Jonathan Mkona and Veronica Malikebu hail from Sadyalunda village, Traditional Authority Sawadi in Balaka district.
Meanwhile whereabouts of the 7 year-old boy are not known.
