BALAKA (MaraviPost) – – A 26-year-old man from Balaka will always curse the day he decided to romp a Standard 5 girl, aged 15. The man, Oscar James, will have to stay inside prison for six years, gnawing his teeth while regretting the crime he committed on March 14, this year.
Even his plea to the court for leniency when passing sentence as a first offender and that he looks after his aged parents was not considered First Grade Magistrate Damson Banda. He had committed an offence contrary to section 138(1) of the Penal code.
The Balaka First Grade Magistrate heard that the victim went to the barber shop to have her hair cut and on her way back, the suspect offered her a lift but before reaching home the suspect defiled her.
“After this, the victim did not report the matter to anyone until when her relatives suspected her of being pregnant; and upon interview, she revealed to have been defiled by the suspect as she was coming from the barber shop,” police prosecutor Christopher Nyirongo told the court.
The issue was reported to Balaka Police who referred the girl to Balaka District Hospital for medical examinations where it was proved that the girl was five months pregnant and Police arrested suspect.
The suspect pleaded guilty to the case of defilement and the court found him guilty.
Constable Nyirongo asked the court to give a stiff and custodial sentence saying that the case committed is serious and that such cases are becoming rampant in the district.
Magistrate Banda agreed with the state that such cases are becoming rampant and that the future of the girl child in this case has been doomed. He therefore sentenced him to 72 months (six years) imprisonment with hard labour to deter would-be offenders.
James, who is married, comes from Zidyana village, Traditional Authority Nkaya in Balaka district.
The sentence comes amid increased cases of defilement in the district which has seen two men being arrested this week alone after defiling their 3-year-old and 6-years-old children respectively.
